We may only get one official week to celebrate teachers, but the reality is that we should celebrate our educators daily. Amongst the greatest teachers is Mrs. Christye Hayes-Sanders— a special education teacher at Batesville Middle School. Her passion, love for her students, and profound wisdom is what keeps Mrs. Sanders in the field of education. I had the pleasure of interviewing this amazing teacher. Keep reading to see exactly what Mrs. Sanders has to say about her journey— word for word!
Tell me about yourself.
My name is Christye Hayes-Sanders. I am married to Pastor Walter Sanders, and we have one daughter, Kylah Sanders, and I also have two stepdaughters. I began my journey in education as a speech pathologist for five years and after receiving my master’s and education specialist degrees from Ole Miss in special education, I became a Pre-K special education teacher. I have worked as a professional development coordinator for the Mississippi Department of Education as well as the University of Southern Mississippi. I have also worked as an adjunct instructor for the University of Mississippi. I am currently a special education teacher at Batesville Middle School. I am a published author and my research article can be found in The Journal of American Academy of Special Education Professionals.
How long have you been teaching?
I have been an educator for 21 years.
Was teaching your first career choice? If not, what was and what made you decide on teaching?
My first career choice was nursing, but I realized my heart wasn’t fully into it, and I became very passionate about being a speech therapist which ultimately led to me becoming a special education teacher.
Where was your first experience with teaching?
My very first experience with teaching was volunteering at the North Mississippi Regional Center, as well Central Elementary School in Oxford as a volunteer with Read Across America.
Where did you attend college and what was your major?
I attended college at the University Of Mississippi in August of 1998 and pursued my undergraduate degree in communicative disorders. I also received my master’s and education specialist degree from Ole Miss as well. I earned a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education from Ashford University.
Why did you decide on this major?
While working as a speech therapist, I also had the opportunity to service students with multiple disabilities other than just speech, and I was really intrigued and wanted to know more about various disabilities and how I could help those students.
What are some challenges you’ve encountered while teaching?
Some of the challenges I have encountered are being able to service students and make sure that they are getting exactly what they need when teaching a class with numerous ability levels and multi-age ranges. Differentiated instruction and individualized teaching practices can be difficult at times. Another challenge would be the growth and success that my students show may not always be as fast as other classes and people don’t often recognize that the small successes my students make are really big ones. I am blessed that I work under administrators who see the potential my students have and help me celebrate their accomplishments.
What is the most rewarding/exciting part about teaching?
The most rewarding part of teaching is being able to learn new things and share them with my students and my colleagues. I love being able to take what I know and learn each day and implement it in my classroom and watch my students grow. Seeing the faces of each of my students when they learn a new skill is the most rewarding feeling. I also received [the] Outstanding Performance Teacher Award for the 2023 school year and Teacher of the Year Award for the 2023-2024 school year. These awards have been the most rewarding for me as a teacher.
What advice would you give to someone who is interested in teaching?
I would tell a person to go into teaching not for the money but for the reward. The reward is watching your students grow and succeed. Always have an open mind and open heart for your students and build great relationships with their parents.
The Final Note
Teaching children is not an easy feat. However, with over twenty years of experience and wisdom, Mrs. Sanders shows that teaching truly is one of the most valuable and rewarding career paths to pursue. Her success has not only come from the fact that she is an educator but from the impeccable impact she’s had and her unwavering love for her students. Take time to thank a teacher, like Mrs. Sanders, this week (and every day).
Photos are courtesy of Christy Hayes-Sanders
