DeAnte Spann named November Teacher of the Month at Morton Upper Elementary School

In his short career as an educator, Alcorn State University alumnus DeAnte Spann is already making a significant impact in his field.

Spann, a fourth grade English/Language Arts teacher at Morton Upper Elementary School, was named the school’s November Teacher of the Month.

For Spann, the award is a testament to the hard work he has put in so far.

“It feels really good to be named Morton Upper Elementary School’s November Teacher of the Month,” said Spann. “Some of my goals are to inspire, motivate, educate and prepare students to be lifelong learners and productive citizens of society. I am so glad that all of my hard work thus far has paid off.”

His dedication to educating students has come with other accolades, including leading his second period afternoon class to a year’s worth of growth on the Star Reading Assessment, which is a Renaissance Learning test that provides interim data on students’ reading skills.

The news assured Spann that he was accomplishing his goal of being a difference maker in the educations of his students.

“I was thrilled when I heard the news and saw the data. It feels great to know that I am making an impact at my school because my ultimate goal as a teacher is to make a difference in the lives of our youth. I try to instill a passion for learning in my students along with a desire to do their best. My students can tell you that I push them daily to strive for greatness and nothing less, which is our school’s motto.”

Spann credits his family, who are mostly educators, and his time at Alcorn for inspiring him and shaping him into the educator he is today.

“I’ve always wanted to be a teacher. Most of my family are educators, so seeing the impact and joy of teaching through them inspired me to continue in their footsteps of helping children reach their potential and steering them in the right direction. Alcorn’s Department of Education and Psychology provided me with the skills needed to be an effective educator. The Department also shared some valuable resources in classes that are essential in creating and maintaining a classroom conducive for learning.”

In the future, Spann plans to become an instructional technologist so that he can train other educators on how to effectively use technology to enhance the learning experience for students. He also aspires to become a school administrator, superintendent and college professor.

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