Page 9 - January 2018 JobReady
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Bearden Teacher Wins Regional Award by Pursuing Her Passion
ana McWhorter, a business approached McWhorter about
teacher at Bearden High moving up and teaching at the high
JSchool, cannot think of any school.
other job she wants. "He said that if no one else
"This is the only career I've comes and applies, we're going to
had," she said. "It doesn't feel move you to high school. Over the
like I'm going to work every summer, I waited to see if anyone
day. It feels like you're making a would come and we didn't have
difference. It's fun." anyone to apply," McWhorter said.
Her zest for teaching has McWhorter made a drastic
been recognized by her peers, change again after spending a year
as she was named the 2017 teaching biology. The school's
Region IV Association of Career business teacher was deployed
and Technical Education (ACTE) and the yearbook needed to be
Teacher of the Year. This award finished. McWhorter took on the Jana McWhorter, CTE teacher for
salutes outstanding career and role. While the deployed business Bearden School District, holding her award
technical education teachers who teacher kept filing extensions, for 2017 Region IV ACTE Teacher of the
demonstrate a strong commitment McWhorter became certified in Year.
and dedication to the discipline business. That was ten years ago.
while preparing students for life "You do what you need to do
after school. to help your school. I love CTE. I science through modern
"We have great students am so thankful to have been able technologies.
here, and that helps to be a to stay with CTE. It's constantly "I love it. I have changed
commendable teacher," said changing, and as you can see, I classes to accommodate students'
McWhorter, who is in her twenty- like change," McWhorter said while needs and what employers are
second year as an educator. chuckling. looking for. You have to modify
Her principal, Felecia Bryant This year, McWhorter is and adjust according to industry,"
Doster, said that McWhorter teaching Computer Business she said.
"works endlessly to build open Applications, Business Procedures, While McWhorter did not
relationships with all students [by] Digital Communication III win the national title, which
forming bonds that make them feel and IV (which will next year was announced in Nashville in
comfortable in taking her classes be called Social Media and December, she is grateful to have
and also creates an environment Communications), Business Law been a finalist. McWhorter said
where students want to take and Financial Literacy. Also, she the winning teacher, who hails from
business classes." advises as the school's Future New York, is well deserving of the
McWhorter's journey as a Business Leaders of America award.
teacher started early. Her mother (FBLA) chapter. This past summer, To be named among the
taught elementary school. She she and two students traveled to best CTE teachers is a humbling
followed in her footsteps. Facebook's headquarters in Menlo accomplishment for McWhorter,
"That's how my mind was set Park, California, representing the especially for doing something that
up. I always knew I wanted to be state as the inaugural winners she truly loves.
in education," she said. of the TechStart New Frontier "If you aren't doing something
For eleven years, she taught competition. TechStart is a you enjoy, then you're doing the
elementary grades. But after Facebook education initiative in wrong thing," she said.
earning a master's degree in high schools that encourages
biology, the superintendent students to explore computer
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