Lillie Vaughn became a teacher at Resurrection Catholic because it is a Christian educational environment. The school aims to help children find purpose and meaning and weave their faith into all areas of learning. It believes all students deserve an excellent education regardless of race, creed, or ability.
Lillie teaches science, math, and social studies to 7th and 8th graders. Teaching middle schoolers is often described as challenging due to the hormonal changes and developmental stages of middle school. It’s a new chapter in their lives that’s potentially scary and forces them to step outside their comfort zones. It requires discovering who they are, establishing new social connections, adapting to academics rigorously, and much more. However, she finds it rewarding, as teachers are vital in guiding students through this transitional period.
Graduating from Tuskegee Institute with a bachelor’s degree in science and a master’s degree in counseling from Alabama State University, she helps students build self-esteem and confidence. They should believe in themselves and their ability to learn regardless of their background or skills. “Sometimes students need someone to look up to as a role model. Teaching helped bring value and meaning to my life,” she explains.
Teachers are certainly more than just teachers. Daily, they pour their hearts into their students. They are a beacon of hope to the masses. Lillie shares, “The one thing about teaching I wish people understood is that all children are not the same, and the level of learning is not the same. Students can still be encouraged to dream and be challenged to reach their fullest potential.” It takes dedicated educators to mold and shape our youth into young leaders of the future.
Every year, teachers establish goals to challenge their students. Lillie Vaughn strives to improve students’ academic performance and increase student engagement and participation in class activities. She works to build a positive relationship with students and parents. Her goals will help her achieve success in the classroom and positively impact students.
Lillie Vaughn has been married to John Mitchell for 40 years. They have two children and two grandchildren.
