Kindergarten teacher Emily Pollard is easily recognizable by her persistent smile.

Pollard, 30, is a Mississippi University for Women graduate. She worked at First Baptist Church Day Care, Columbus, prior to teaching at Enterprise Attendance Center, where she has been employed for three years.

Originally from Natchez, Pollard has called Brookhaven home for nearly four years. She and husband Scott recently celebrated their fifth wedding anniversary and have two children — Kristen, 10, and Jack, 4.

A member of Southway Baptist Church in Brookhaven, Pollard also sings in the church’s praise team and choir, and teaches GAs — a missions-focused group for girls — on Wednesday nights.

She loves being outside.

“I enjoy kayaking, fishing, hunting and gardening,” she said, partly because they are activities she can participate in with family and friends.

Her favorite food fits well into the outdoors lifestyle, too. It is a steak cooked to medium perfection and served with sweet potato fries.

One of her family’s favorite traditions is traveling to different states that house major league baseball teams.

“We want to show our children different places and this gives us the opportunity,” Pollard said.

“Some things I couldn’t do without are Christ, my husband and my children,” she said. “My family is very important to me.”