Alexandria educator named National Teacher of the Year
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (ABC7) — Early childhood education students at TC Williams High School in Alexandria got a first look at the pre-schoolers with whom they'll soon work with.
Until now, their learning has been classroom-based with instructor Kimberly Wilson leading the way.
"She always gives 110 even on her worst days," said one of her students Teddy Addo.
The high praise came from Wilson's current students as well as her former ones.
"It wasn't just another student on the roster. We were literally her babies so that's like clearly my second mom," said Diamond Harris who graduated from TC Williams in 2013.
Caring about kids is Wilson's way of giving back what she once received.
"I had teachers who did that for me and so I think that natural instinct from what I remember from back then just kind of like flowed from me," she said.
"I started to believe in myself a little bit more because she believed in me. If she didn't believe in me, I honestly wouldn't be right where I'm at today," said 26-year-old Sheila Purce, who now teaches Family and Consumer Science at Francis Hammond Middle School.
Wilson's impact is attracting attention from around the state and the country. The Association for Career and Technical Education has named her National Teacher of the Year.
For Wilson, the win has inspired a message.
"No matter where you come from, no matter what your humble beginnings are, that you can do anything as long as you work hard, as long as you have the right attitude and as long as you always smile and you let people know thank you," she said.
Wilson has worked as a teacher in Alexandria for nearly 30 years. She started at the middle school level and has taught high school students for the past nine years.
