Kala Williamson named Teacher of the Year at Bovina Elementary School

VICKSBURG, Miss. (VDN) — Kala Williamson has been named Teacher of the Year at Bovina Elementary School, an honor determined by a vote of all certified teachers at the school.

Williamson is currently in her ninth year in the classroom and her fourth year teaching at Bovina Elementary. She teaches sixth-grade English Language Arts and has spent the past four years at Bovina after beginning her career at Redwood Elementary. During her five years at Redwood, she taught fifth-grade science and sixth-grade ELA.

Williamson said one of the aspects she enjoys most about teaching at Bovina is the collaborative environment among faculty and staff.

“The team atmosphere: Everyone works hard to help our students be the best they can be,” Williamson said. She noted that teachers across all grade levels, along with activity teachers and administrators, each play an important role in student success.

A 2001 graduate of Porters Chapel Academy, Williamson earned a Bachelor of Science degree in kinesiology from Mississippi State University in 2005. She later received a Bachelor of Science degree in dental hygiene from the University of Mississippi Medical Center in 2007 and completed a Master of Arts degree in education in 2018.

Williamson said student impact is her favorite part of teaching.

“I want my students to know that I care about them as individual people, not just students in my classroom,” she said. She added that she enjoys supporting students beyond the classroom by attending their athletic events, competitions and performances.

Her overall goal for students, she said, is rooted in care, accountability and character development.

“My overall goal is for my students to know I love and care about them,” Williamson said, adding that she wants students to become responsible young people with good morals and integrity.

Williamson is also involved in the school’s Lighthouse Action Team, which focuses on interpersonal communication, staff learning, family engagement and community partnerships.

She said being named Teacher of the Year was unexpected and humbling.

“This was a complete shock to me; totally unexpected!” Williamson said.

In addition to teaching, Williamson continues to practice dental hygiene, making it possible for some former or current students to see their teacher in the dental chair as well as the classroom.