The Brookhaven School District has chosen seventh-grade math teacher Laura Ann Walker as Teacher of the Year.

Walker has 13 years experience and is currently teaching 119 students.

“I have known my entire life that I was going to be a teacher,” Walker said. “Ever since I was a little child, I played school. It’s the gift that God has given me. I was created to be a teacher. It’s my passion. I love it. I look forward to coming to work every single day.”

Walker said she tries to approach teaching math in a way that’s fun and engaging for students, while showing them that math factors into every aspect of life — even when they don’t necessarily realize it.

“We do a lot of interactive math,” Walker said. “I tell real-life stories to try and relate it to their life. For example, today we were studying probability in statistics, and we were talking about how a statistician may use that in the Super Bowl.

“I understand that when they walk in the door, most of them have heard a grown-up in their life hate math, so I just want my students to realize that it’s not a big scary monster. It can be something that’s exciting and fun. That’s my goal, is that students understand that they can do math and they can be successful at it.”

Walker said her favorite aspect of teaching is when she can help those students that feel like the world has given up on them.

“He probably feels like nobody cares, and he’s willing to confide in me,” Walker said. “He knows that I am willing to help. He says, ‘Hey Mrs. Walker I need help with this math problem’ or ‘Hey Mrs. Walker I figured out the answer.’”

Those are my favorite moments in the classroom.

“I have been very blessed to have been around some of the greatest teachers, and some of the greatest students in my career as a teacher. Every moment has been a teaching moment for me or for my students.”

The Teacher of the Year is chosen by a committee based on a set of guidelines. The name for each district’s Teacher of the Year will be sent to the Mississippi Department of Education, who will choose a state-wide Teacher of the Year March 8.