Brittany Boyd remembers the words of her late father well.
“When I decided to return to school for my teaching degree, my dad proudly reminded me, ‘I told you, you should have been an educator!’” Boyd said. “He was my inspiration to do this.”
Boyd’s father worked in education for 33 years, and she follows in his footsteps today. She’s taught second grade at Mimosa Park Elementary since 2020 and is about to begin her fifth school year on staff. Boyd has spent 10 years in education overall, including a beginning as a paraeducator, which gave her a first glimpse of classroom life from an instructor’s point of view.
Boyd credits her father with influencing many of the traits that paved the way for her to connect with her own students in the classroom.
“From a young age, he instilled in me the values of discipline, the power of knowledge, and unwavering support in any sport or art I wanted to pursue,” Boyd said.
Even so, teaching wasn’t her initial plan.
“When I went to college and majored in business management, my dad always encouraged me to consider education because of my natural ability to connect with people and children,” Boyd said. “Seeing the way his former students spoke about him and embraced him had a lasting impact on me.”
After she graduated with a degree in business, Boyd managed a tutoring company and discovered she had a real passion for helping students build confidence and achieve their academic goals.
Watching her students grasp lessons and grow is what she enjoys most about her job.
“The most rewarding part of my job is witnessing my students’ growth, both socially and academically, over the course of a year,” Boyd said. “Seeing them grasp new and challenging concepts or build confidence in their abilities is incredibly rewarding not only for them but also for me. Knowing that I have played a part in their educational journey and personal development is what makes this profession so fulfilling.”
Boyd was nominated by her colleagues for Teacher of the Year consideration in 2023-24 and said she’s particularly proud of her growth within her profession during her time at Mimosa Park.
In the classroom, she focuses on encouragement, believing students are able to perform their best when they feel valued and capable.
“My teaching philosophy centers around creating a supportive and engaging learning environment by integrating theories of learning, behavior, and motivation,” she said. “I believe in fostering a strong rapport with my students, understanding their individual needs, and facilitating their active engagement in challenging yet achievable activities.”
