Educator of the Week: Shantwania Chaney

It’s time now to recognize this week’s Educator of the Week, brought to you by the Tennessee Education Lottery.

Shantwania Chaney is a third grade reading and social studies teacher at East Elementary School in Jackson.

She shared that her favorite thing about teaching is seeing her students learn and grow.

Chaney also shared one of the toughest parts.

“When they’re — a student — is having a really difficult day and and facing things, personally at home or wherever, just not being able to change that because you never want that to interfere with their education,” Chaney said.

Chaney believes everyone needs genuine love and care.

“We encourage first thing in the morning, we look at each other and we tell each other every morning, even I tell them, ‘we got this, today is going to be a good day,’ so it’s kind of like a personal pledge, a personal thing we take to the highest and we live it everyday,” Chaney said.

Chaney has seen this intentional encouragement become a habit.

“If a student is having a day, another student may say ‘what did we say this morning?’, and they live by it and that, it pays off.”

To future educators, Chaney promotes persistence.

“Stay in it, stay focused and don’t worry about the outside things. Know what your purpose is and walk in it.”

Chaney shared her purpose when in the classroom.

“I don’t come to work for anything as far as myself. I come to see what I can give.”

Chaney reflected on her nomination as she gave her final phrase of advice.

“Just keep going, just keep going, even to myself, just keep going and just know that someone’s always watching, cause this was a huge surprise so I’m just… I’m overwhelmed, but, I’m happy and grateful.”

Chaney is now eligible for the Tennessee Education Lottery Educator of the Month award.

To vote for her or any other nominees, go to the Tennessee Education Lottery website.

To nominate an educator for our Educator of the Week award, email us at [email protected].