BROOKHAVEN — Alexander Junior High special education teacher Karitta Warren was working with a student after school close to where The Dart landed Thursday afternoon. She has a bubbly personality and a kind heart.

Her colleague helping in the room said she is the most caring individual and puts everyone first. The students at Alexander are her number-one priority, her colleague said.

Warren has taught at Alexander for the last 17 years, February will mark her 18th year with the school. She said her husband is a captain in the police department and they met through working in the Brookhaven School District.

A native of Utica, Warren attended Tougaloo College because it was close to home and she earned a degree in special education. She furthered her education at William Carey University. Teaching was not her first passion or dream job. Computer science was what she enjoyed in the 1990s but a lady at the college told her she should study education.

“I love special education. It has been good to me. This is where I started and I’m still here, I could not imagine myself anywhere else,” Warren said. “I like to help people see they can learn wherever they are. It does not matter where you are, you have to learn about yourself too and become a better citizen.”

She was Alexander’s cheer coach until this year when her daughters moved on to Brookhaven High School. They are cheerleaders there and she wanted to be able to watch them perform.

Outside of school, she enjoys working in the local community.

“I work at Walmart part time. I love working there. It is my past time because I love to serve the community,” Warren said. “I feel like what we produce is important. I like to try and find ways to give back to the community. At Walmart, I was a cashier but I have started to float all over and learn new roles.”

A member of Abundant Life Church, Warren said she consistently attends church. Her faith is important to her. God’s word gives the instruction for how she should live her life. She said the word tells people to love others.

“I like Brookhaven. I have only lived in a country town type atmosphere. They have given to me so why not give back to Brookhaven,” Warren said. “They took a chance on me and I want to finish my work here. We want to keep producing positive citizens here.”