Meet state “Sweet 16” Teacher of the Year finalist Jerome Isley

On April 9, Hall-Kent teacher Jerome Isley was named one of eight elementary school “Sweet 16” finalists for Alabama’s 2013-2014 Teacher of the Year. The field will soon be narrowed down to the “Final Four,” with the Teacher of the Year winner being revealed at a ceremony hosted by the Alabama State Department of Education on May 8.

The Homewood Star asked Mr. Isley about his teaching career and learned about his passion for inclusion education and encouraging students toward not just goodness but greatness.

Tell us about yourself.

I have taught second grade at Hall-Kent for 12 years, all in same room. I live on Raleigh Avenue exactly 158 feet from Hall-Kent Elementary; I should know, I've walked to work for 12 straight years, rain or shine. I am married, and my wife, Whitney, and I have two beautiful boys, Nolan (3) and Ryan (1).

What would receiving the title of Alabama Teacher of the Year mean to you?

It would mean more than I could put into words. Words that I can use to describe such an award are: blessed, humbled, honored and grateful. I am blessed because God gave me talents to bring Him all the glory. I am humbled because I teach with "Teachers of the Years" at Hall-Kent everyday. I am honored because it is a tremendous award to represent the great state of Alabama. I am grateful because the teachers I spend most of my life with thought highly enough of me to start this wonderful process.

How would you use it to benefit not only your school and district, but also other schools across the state?

I feel very strongly about inclusion in the regular education classroom. As a matter of fact, I wouldn't even call it "regular education" classroom; I would say I feel very strongly about inclusion in the classroom! My platform is to, as potential Alabama Teacher of the Year, bring about an awareness of possible misconceptions about students with different abilities, not disabilities. 

What would be your first action as Teacher of the Year?

My first action would be to meet with state leaders in education in the field of special education. I would find out the most current data on inclusion in the classroom and what is working and what isn't. Every student deserves to be in the classroom as much as possible regardless of their disability, yet, rather their ability to become more successful today than they were yesterday.

What mentor or hero deserves partial credit for your nomination and why?

I have/had two heroes in my life who have influenced and deserve credit for this nomination. I had a sister who was not included in the classroom because she was labeled "special ed." She was isolated with others like her instead with students unlike her. She wasn't given a chance to view society as it truly is, nor did students have an opportunity to learn from her. She passed away my senior year of high school, and so my journey began to be an elementary teacher.

My other hero is my wife. She is my hero and my dear friend who year after year has encouraged me and always told me I was a great teacher. It is that kind of support that has made me the teacher that I am today. She never told me I was a good teacher, she always told me I was great. If you stop by my second grade classroom, you would hear that same language spoken to my kids; they don't aspire to be good, they aspire to be great!

What one thing do you hope every student learns from you?

There are two things that I want students to learn from me. One is "Becoming is better than being." The process of literacy doesn't stop when you receive your degree, it continues for a lifetime. The other is to be/do great in life, not just good.

What do you first remember when you think about your own time in grade school?

The only teacher that I can remember was my fifth grade teacher, who told me if I pulled my grade up to an "A," she would buy my lunch. For some reason that made an impression on me. She cared enough about my learning to step outside the box and make learning meaningful and with a purpose. I teach today because of the teachers I had who didn't step outside the box and deliver meaningful curriculum with purposes for learning.