Meridian Public Schools’ Teacher of the Year Brittani Emerson inspires students to reach their potential

Published 1:45 pm Thursday, February 14, 2019

Having a brother with Down syndrome inspired Brittani Emerson to become a teacher.

“When he was younger we would always go in the back yard and find ways to teach him. I just saw a need for special education,” said Emerson, the teacher of the year for the Meridian Public School District. 

Emerson, an exceptional education teacher at Crestwood Elementary School, didn’t expect to receive the honor during a recent school board meeting. 

“I think my facial expression said it all, I was completely shocked,” Emerson said.

Emerson is the district’s first exceptional education teacher to be honored as teacher of the year. She  feels like she’s paving the way for other teachers who want to work with children with special needs.

A native of Meridian, Emerson actually attended Crestwood when she was child. While she was a  student at the school, one of her teachers said she would grow up to be an educator, even though  Emerson would brush off the idea.  

‘We deal with the whole child’

Emerson said the best thing about her job are her students, because she helps them reach their potential. She considers her students family, and says teaching them helps her as well. 

“It’s not so much they need me, I need them,” Emerson said.

For Emerson, teaching isn’t only about academics, it’s about building personal relationships with her students.

“The heart of teaching is not just in the classroom academics,” she said. “We deal with the whole child.”  

During her first year of teaching, Emerson worked with a student who was having a hard time passing the third grade reading gate. Despite her frustration, Emerson started to encourage him.

Over the course of the year, Emerson’s efforts to help the young boy worked, and she began to see a change. Eventually, he passed the test and became a leader to other students in the school.  Even though the student moved away, Emerson still keeps in touch with him, to make sure he is doing well.

“That would definitely be a success story,” Emerson said. “To see when students finally can achieve and master what we set out for them to accomplish.” 

High expectations 

Rosalind Operton, the principal at Crestwood, said Emerson has high expectations for her students, which helps them succeed in the classroom. 

“Every student she has taught has grown academically, ” Operton said.

Operton said Emerson also builds relationships with students, parents and other staff members at the school. Growing up at Sowashee Courts, Emerson relates to her students by telling them how she used to live there, since many of her students live in that neighborhood.  

Emerson is always willing to help around the school, Operton added. 

“You don’t have to ask, she is always there,” she said.

Looking ahead

Emerson, who also works at The Boys Girls Club of East Mississippi when she’s not teaching at Crestwood, hopes to have a long career in education, because the best reward is in molding young minds. 

“I just want to continue to have an impact with students,” Emerson said.