Teacher of the Week: Claire Talley, McCullough Junior High

As a society, we may forget that teachers are public employees in the vein of firefighters, policemen and politicians. Teachers perform a public service. To become a teacher is a choice to forsake the almighty dollar and instead serve the interests of the general public (that’s you and me). So it’s worthwhile to recognize this sacrifice and acknowledge teachers for the heroes they are--heroes in the everyday war of attrition we wage against ignorance and apathy. In this weekly series, Woodlands Online features one Woodlands area educator for his or her outstanding contributions to our children’s development.

THE WOODLANDS, Texas – Claire Talley is a 7th Grade Math and Pre-Algebra teacher at McCullough Junior High School in Conroe ISD, where she double teams as the director for the school’s drill team, the Highland Girls.

Claire Talley has been teaching in The Woodlands for four years, but her roots run much deeper with the community. Talley grew up in The Woodlands, and before she was teaching students at McCullough, she was just a student herself when she attended the school. Talley went on to attend The Woodlands High School where she was a proud member of the Highsteppers. After graduating in 2004, Claire Talley attended Texas A&M with no intention of teaching after college.

“I knew I would teach about halfway through college,” said Talley. “I was not enjoying my major and decided to make the switch. I was blessed with the opportunity to work with an after school program in College Station through my last year of college. Even though I was working with elementary and intermediate age students, I knew I was where I should be.”

By the end of this school year, Talley hopes that her students leave her classroom with an appreciation of math, even if the subject doesn’t come easy to them. Talley understands that each student learns differently and that there is not always one way to teach.

“I hope they have learned strategies that work for them when it comes to problem solving. We all learn differently, and take different routes to arrive at the same answers. I hope I have equipped them with enough tools to navigate through the problems,” said Talley.

Talley not only teaches numbers and equations, but dance routines as well. Once part of the drill team, Talley is now the director for the Highland Girls. So far, her favorite moment from coaching this year happened just about a month ago. The Highland Girls were at a competition at Oak Ridge High School. After a lot of hard work, overcoming obstacles such as missed practices due to the winter weather and a difficult dance, the team performed their very best.

“Listening to the crowd's reaction to their performance was magical,” said Talley. “It is so rewarding to see the smiles on their faces when they walk off the competition floor, and knowing in their hearts how well they performed. None of this is about me; it's about building their self-confidence and the realization that hard work does pay off in the end.”

When Claire Talley is not in the classroom or coaching on the dance floor, she loves spending time with her family and friends that reside in The Woodlands.

Claire Talley was nominated by our Facebook fan, Morgan Dobson.