Laura Williams becomes family’s third teacher at her old school while earning university’s top academic honor
As a student teacher at Mooreville Elementary School this spring, Laura Williams, a senior education major at the University of Mississippi at Tupelo, is walking the halls she remembers so fondly from when she was a child.
However, the 2017 MHS graduate isn’t the only member of her family wearing a Mooreville Troopers faculty badge each day. Her mother and brother are both educators in the district. Her mother, Patti Williams, teaches computer classes at the high school, and her brother, Drew Wheeler, teaches seventh-grade science.
Williams said her passion for helping students comes from her family and the example they set. Her mom has been teaching at Mooreville for more than 15 years.
“When my mom hears students call me Ms. Williams now, it can make her a bit emotional,” Williams said. “She watched me grow up here at this school, and now I am turning into an adult at the same place that helped me become who I am.”
Williams has had the opportunity to see caring teachers at work throughout her life.
“My mom had open heart surgery my freshmen year of college,” Williams said. “It happened during the time I was taking college finals for the first time, and it changed my perspective on life.”
Williams said she learned a lot about herself during that time, including more about the importance of empathy and support for your students.
“My professors were kind to me, and it helped me to realize that you may not know what your students are going through at home, but it is an educator’s job not only to teach, but to be there for your students,” she said.
As a student teacher this spring, Williams has had opportunities to connect with students who need support and understanding just like she did at one time, she said.
“I like the relationships I get to form with students who may need a little extra attention or encouragement to fulfill their potential,” Williams said. “Some students you get to help can change your outlook when you realize that the connections you make with them can help them not only in the classroom, but in their lives.”
Williams has spent the past few years volunteering in schools and within the community. One part of this has been her desire to mentor fellow community college transfer students who are considering going into the education field.
Svjetlana Curcic, an associate professor in the UM School of Education, recalled Williams’ interest in mentoring other transfer students as they made the leap from a community college to the university.
“For her to take the time to mentor other students was especially impressive,” Curcic said. “Peer mentoring is an invaluable help to our future students and future teachers in this community.”
Along with her volunteer work and owning her own photography business, Williams has maintained a 4.0 GPA during her time at UM and recently was honored with one of the university’s most prestigious academic awards, the Taylor Medal. Taylor Medals are awarded to no more than 1 percent of the Ole Miss student body each year.
Williams said it was helpful having a community of students and supportive teachers while at the Tupelo regional campus who share the same passion for making a difference in the lives of the next generation.
While at UM-Tupelo, Williams received financial support from awards such as the Lyceum Scholarship that helped make her goal of coming out of college debt-free a reality.
“Without the support I found at Ole Miss, I would not have had a chance to dedicate time to volunteer work,” she said. “And with the scholarship support I received, I was able to attend classes and also support many other students on their successful educational journeys.”
Story by Pam Starling/Division of Outreach
