A caring teacher can make all the difference to a student whose circumstances have led to gaps in his or her education. Such a teacher is Mumba Bailey-Smith, our Trinity Falls McKinney ISD Staff Spotlight winner.
The $500 award is presented quarterly to deserving teachers or staff members at the three schools serving Trinity Falls: Press Elementary, Johnson Middle School and McKinney North High School. Nominations are made by Trinity Falls residents.
Bailey-Smith teaches second grade at Press Elementary. She was presented with the award on Aug. 24, flanked by Principal Rachel Constantinescu and Assistant Principal Rachel Cotton.
“I was so shocked to learn that I’d won the Spotlight Award, but truly honored,” said Bailey-Smith. “I will be working with Rachel Constantinescu and Rachel Cotton to decide the best use for the grant I received. I can hardly wait and my students are excited as well.”
The resident who nominated Bailey-Smith, appreciated the teacher’s compassion.
“Mumba knew to step up and be firm when she needed to be firm and compassionate when she needed to be compassionate,” he said in his nomination. “Her communication was great and her feedback was always appreciated and spot on.”
Bailey-Smith has been an educator for 20 years and is in her 10th year at Press Elementary. She is a graduate of Texas Southern University where she earned a bachelor of science degree in early childhood education. She says she loves being a teacher and loves teaching second grade.
“Teaching is such a rewarding profession,” she said. “Every day, I get the opportunity to change someone’s life by teaching them something new. Second grade is the perfect grade in my opinion, because at seven- and eight-years-old, they are young enough to mold and old enough to understand. The best part of teaching is seeing the light bulb turn on when they get it.”
Congratulations, Mumba! We are proud to see you giving so much to our young residents.