Growing up, Candace Wicks was surrounded by teachers and educators. Her mother, her aunt, neighbors, and fellow church members were educators. A teacher was the last person Wicks wanted to grow up to be.
"I tried to fight it. In high school, I was determined that I would be anything except a teacher,” said Wicks, a kindergarten teacher at Erasmo Seguin Community Learning Center. "But by the time I started college, I knew the only thing I could be was a teacher. I was born to be a teacher, and it came easy for me.”
She now has been teaching for 17 years—the last 13 at Seguin—and has become an outstanding teacher. Because she is so outstanding, in May, Wicks was named the 2007-2008 Teacher of the Year.
"I enjoy being in the environment with the students,” said Wicks. "Kindergarten is the critical year where children get their foundation for learning. You have to enjoy being in the classroom to show them that love for learning.”
According to Wicks, twos things set her classroom apart from others – music and parental involvement. She sings and plays the piano and uses music to teach basic skills and higher-order thinking skills. Wicks and her students sing every day, several times a day.
Meeting parents and guardians after school gives Wicks the opportunity to involve them in her classroom and at the school. Through these meetings, she identifies a homeroom parent and those to participate in PTA. These parents can then help her involve other parents.
Wicks asks bilingual parents to translate for non-English speaking parents so all of her students’ parents know what is expected of them and their children. She conducts workshops for parents that include a walk-through of the classroom so parents will understand what their children are learning, see how to help with homework, and learn teaching activities that they can do with their children at home.
Seguin’s principal, Yolanda Thompson, describes Wicks as a person who demonstrates total dedication to the students and their families as they strive for educational excellence.
"She goes that extra mile in implementing any program, performance, or lesson she undertakes. Her contributions have tremendously enhanced the educational process at this school and in the community,” said Thompson.
Wicks isn’t shy about expressing her love for teaching and is glad to offer advice to both new and veteran teachers.
"For new teachers, I would say, ‘Enjoy the classroom, don’t get frustrated, and find a mentor – someone who you can talk to, will support you, and you can learn from,” said Wicks. "For veterans, "Continue to find the passion that led you to the classroom, stay fresh and aware, and make sure to take some time for yourself – you not only need to work hard, but play hard.”
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