Call her friend, teacher, mentor, encourager, Southern Lee's number 1 fan, or you can just call her what most people at Southern Lee know her as, Ms. Beautiful, one thing is for certain, Vickie Wilkins loves what she does and who she does it for. Wilkins began her career in teaching back in 1975 at Fayetteville Academy, but for the last 47 years, she has been a teacher, coach and mentor in the local public schools of Lee County.
Wilkins taught physical education (PE) at St. Clair School, Bragg Street, McIver, Jonesboro, Deep River, and Greenwood all while coaching girls basketball at East Lee for three years. In 1988 she was moved to J. Glenn Edwards where she taught PE for 23 years. Then in 2010, she made the move to Southern Lee High School where she still teaches PE, the Teacher Cadet courses and PEPI (Physical Education Pupil Instructor) which trains students to lead younger children in physical education style courses.
Every place that Ms. Beautiful puts her time, joy and passion flow out. She coaches Girls and Boys Tennis, is a Student Government Advisor and most recently took on the challenge of coaching the school's Bowling team which has now won back-to-back State Championships with Wilkins as their coach. Needless to say, there is a long list of questions we could have asked Mrs. Wilkins, but take some time to hear about her journey in education and be impacted by the joy she brings to teaching in her community.
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Q: How have you seen the district change or evolve during your time here?
Wilkins:" Where I began and where I am now has definitely seen some big changes.Being in the elementary world for so long has shown me that we continue to reach for that innovation, that new program, whatever it takes to teach reading and math. I remember when AR began in reading and children loved it or they despised it. A new phonics program comes out, and I had to learn to use my hands and arms to help sound the word out. We have seen this program in another system, and they are having great success, and all of the employees are going to be trained to utilize this program. It will give us great feedback and allow the student as well as the parents to know what their child is achieving and where they need help.
I understand there is so much taking place in the world of education, and I know Lee County Schools have made the efforts to have us and the students in the right places. When we began with computers in 1988 at J. Glenn Edwards, I had no idea where we began that we would be where we are today in the world of technology! To think we had to create and write a program that we could use in the elementary world, where was AI when I needed him or her?"
Q: How have your relationships with colleagues and students enriched your life and career?
Wilkins: "My colleagues and my students are the people who have made me the educator that I am today. I did not arrive here because I thought I knew a lot of different things.. It's quite the contrary of the outstanding educators and administrators I have worked with through the years who have taught me so much. You will never here me saying that I am the expert, oh no. I am smart enough and wise enough to realize that I have all different types of colleagues around me who are extremely gifted in areas that I am not. I do not hesitate to tap them for their insight and expertise when I am not confident in that which I am expected to do. Going one step further, I love the engaging dialogue that we can have which challenge all of us to be great listeners, and I value all that I have learned from the countless numbers of staff and administrators alike that I have been blessed to wo9rk with.
I have never been " the teacher" in the room. My students realize very quickly that they are also teachers,just not in the sense that they see us. I appreciate and value that which my students share in and out of class, and their voices and what they believe are very important to me. I believe educators should give students all the encouragement they can, and in the case of being in high school, treat students with respect, and let them know their voice will be heard in your classroom. They often say, " Ms Beautiful you do not understand what it's like to be us, and I tell them I am in their choir. " We have all been in their choir, and even though someone may be off key one day, we have to remember we do not know how their evening was, much less how did their morning begin. They deserve the best that we have to give them, and I have to believe I have made a difference in the life of a child. With that being said, you can believe my students have touched my life, and they have made my day.
When you go to a restaurant and they are working, yes I have extra food on my plate. You go to the hospital and you have a scheduled test. You hear a voice in the distance, " Ms. Beautiful I am so excited you are here. I haven't seen you in such a long time. " Then my mind begins to race, and is this student the one who never turned in her homework or was always late with her assignments? Never mind, this test will go according to plan today, all is well."
Q: As you reflect on your time in LCS, what are you most proud of?
Wilkins: "I am most proud of the friendships that I have formed with educators all across this district. I have been inspired and motivated by all of them because of what they bring to the table. I am especially proud of the reason I chose this profession, because the bottom line is I love to teach children! It doesn't matter who I have taught and where - I am the happiest camper on the planet to see any and all of the successes that my students achieve in the here and now, and on down the road. I have people who come up to me and ask if I remember them, and most of the time I might can grab a first name, but definitely not a last name. I can do much better guessing the school, because I will ask who their teacher was in a certain grade, and BINGO, I know then where they went to school.
I cherish what began in a school, a classroom, a gym, because these young ones who have aged gracefully are now friends, and we still love to talk about that parachute! Where I have met their families, I have been blessed with more people and relationships in my life. It does not matter where I will see them, and I always ask how is the rest of their family doing? I get so excited for whatever they are doing, creating, and how they have evolved because that next generation continues to rise! Keep up that great work!"
Q: If there is one thing you could tell future employees about this district, what would it be?
"I would tell future employees welcome to the family of people who genuinely care about children and their families. Wherever I have taught it is like being in one big family, because we have shared goals and when we work together, there is not anything that we can not do. You have friends, you have other friends, you have colleagues who care about you, and they will be there to help you along the way. This is not a road to be traveled alone, and that is not what happens in this system. I have been welcomed no matter what school I was in, and you become a part of that school because they will draw you in as well. What more does one need to teach? We have massive support from building to building, people with experience, and those with inexperience . Do not fear having inexperience, because there are those gaining experience, and those who are seasoned with experience - you will fit right in!
Could I have made more money going to another school system? Yes I absolutely could have but when I am teaching, Monday is just as great as Friday. My happiness is way more important when it comes to teaching. They say money is the root of all evil, and if I made more money, I would have to pay more taxes! If it was truly all about money, I would never have been in this profession. My love, my passion is teaching. I have been blessed to work with such unique and talented colleagues and administrators. My students continue to make every day special, and I would not take anything for those moments."