Educator of the Week: Jessica Brockman

DECATURVILLE, Tenn. — It’s time now to recognize our Educator of the Week, brought to you by the Tennessee Education Lottery.

Jessica Brockman is a kindergarten teacher at Decaturville Elementary School. She tells us how a teacher inspired her at young age.

“My 1st grade teacher made me want to be a teacher. Her name was Ms. Gaye Yarbrough, and she taught in this school building, and she just loved us. She cared about us. She let us be special helpers, and she just really had a good relationships with her students, and that made me want to become a teacher so I could do the same,” said Brockman.

Brockman is not only an educator but also a mother of three. She tells us how she had the opportunity to teach her children in class.

“Something special to me in the past couple of years is I have been able to teach all three of my own children in kindergarten, and that’s just special. Not many parents get to spend that extra time with their kids, and so that was an extra eight hours for 180 days that I got to spend my children and teach them to read,” said Brockman.

Brockman’s journey has not always been easy. She shares how a with battle with colon cancer almost kept her from her students.

“I did have stage three colon cancer, and I came to work many days during chemotherapy, and my administration was super supportive of me.  But me not being here would have a huge impact on my students, and they needed that foundation, and they needed me to be at school. It’s very important for me to be here during that time,” said Brockman.

Brockman ends by encouraging anyone interested in education to take that first step.

“Many people will say if you’re interested in being a teacher, don’t do it.  Find something else to do. But I disagree. If you’re interested in being a teacher, you can change the lives of many kids. And I think it’s a great profession,” said Brockman.

Brockman is now eligible for the Tennessee Education Lottery Educator of the Month award. To vote for her or any other nominees, go to the Tennessee Education Lottery website.

To nominate an educator for our Educator of the Week award, email us at wbbj-educator@graymedia.com.

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