Growing up, Krileshia Boyd would pretend she was an educator. 

“Ever since I was a little girl, I would play school and say I was the teacher,” she recalled. 

These days, Boyd is no longer pretending.

She works at Northeast Lauderdale Elementary School, where she teaches English and language arts. And she’s good at her job, being named teacher of the year for the Lauderdale County school district in January.

On Friday, Boyd will go to Jackson to see if she was chosen as the Mississippi teacher of the year. She’s one of several finalists from around the state up for the honor. 

Giving back

Boyd, a 1996 graduate of Northeast Lauderdale, said she feels honored to be teaching where she grew up. Teaching allows her to give back to her community, she said. 

“In one way, it is a way to give back that was given to me through great teachers I had,” Boyd said.  

Thinking back to when she was in middle school, Boyd remembers a teacher who took her under her wing, molding her into the person and teacher she is today.

Angie Nelson, the assistant principal at Northeast, remembers when Boyd joined the school’s faculty. She knew then that Boyd was going to do great things.

“It just makes my heart smile to be able to say that she is one of teachers here at Northeast Elementary,” said Nelson, adding that Boyd treats all of her students like her own, even when she doesn’t teach them on a regular basis.

Going above and beyond

Boyd describes herself as someone who focuses on building relationships and encouraging  and motivating her students. She also challenges herself — and others – to go above and beyond.

“I like engaging with the students, engaging them and challenging them,” she said.

One way she keeps students engaged is by being creative. To make reading fun, she has the students create interactive book report. She also offers them a book club and tutoring sessions after school.  

Boyd said she also enjoys seeing students realize their potential, and is often visited by former students who keep her updated on their lives.  

Being humbled

Boyd hopes that being recognized will give her a platform and voice on educational issues  in Mississippi, especially from her perspective as a teacher.

She’s still humbled by the recognition, saying she’s not the only teacher who does great things. She noted that she hasn’t done it all alone; it’s been a community effort for her to become a top teacher.

“I am still a little surprised, it’s humbling for one, ” Boyd said.