Ladies and Gentleman, It’s my pleasure to introduce you to someone who means a lot to me and so many others! Tanicia Peairs or better known to me as Miss Tee! We have been friends for.. well a long time. We met in our early 20’s while she was in college here in Wichita (she is originally from California and has been back there for many years). Miss Tee is a middle school teacher and truly loves what she does and does it well. She makes teaching fun and interesting and tailors her curriculum to individual students because as we all know not all kids learn the same.
She is a gentle, kind, hilarious, intelligent without letting her ego get in the way (she is a natural teacher for sure), beautiful, a great friend, and inspiring. We all could learn so much from her.
So let’s get into this interview so we can hear from her all about her.
NPR: Let’s start with a bit about yourself, basic stuff - age, area you live in, how long have you been teaching, pets, favorite color, and anything else you would like to share with everyone?
MT: Wow! Fantastic introduction! I'm humbled. I'm 35 years old and have been working with children all of my adult life! Though, I've been teaching officially for 6 years. My favorite color, my POWER color, is Purple. I have a pet dog, named Sadie. She is a 9 year old White Labrador/Pit mix and my fur baby!
NPR: When was the first time you realized you wanted to be a teacher? What about for the age group you teach?
MT: Growing up, many people told me that I should be a teacher; however, I wanted to be a psychologist. When I attended Wichita State University in undergrad, Psychology was my major. For four years, I worked with kids to put myself through college, but never wanting to make it a long term career choice. One summer day in 2004, I was working at a summer camp with a group of 1st and 2nd graders. I was helping them facilitate how to build a tent. I didn't do it for them, but I asked guiding questions, offered encouragement, and when they got frustrated asked them to look at it from a different view. After some time, with a lot of teamwork, and perseverance, the kids put together the tent and lifted it upright. The kids let out a loud cheer of excitement and accomplishment! I cheered with them! That moment I knew I wanted to be a teacher. It was my destiny! I knew because I thought to myself, I helped them to realize that they were capable of putting together a tent. For the rest of the summer, the kids played in the tent, read books, and created a safe space… from their own hands. The tent was theirs… and I helped.
NPR: Who is your biggest inspiration? Why?
MT: My biggest inspiration were some of my own teachers that I had growing up. It is not easy for a kid attending 10 schools from Kindergarten through 12th grade. However, I was blessed with amazing teachers and mentors. My sixth grade teacher, Ms. Bonora, was young, strong, intelligent, and straight to the point. She was a strong female figure and personally told me, and made me feel like I could succeed. My high school French teacher, Mme. Stevens, encouraged and nurtured my French language development. She inspired my passion to investigate and embrace other cultures. She brought her kindness and sensitivity to her instruction, and it made her a stronger educator. Mr. Hallford was my AP English teacher my senior year in high school. His was the most challenging class I ever had to take. I had always been an exemplary student, but not in his class. I tended to earn Cs. However, he challenged me to work hard. I earned every A I received in his class. Every time I did write an exceptional essay, he made sure that I was recognized for it. Mr. Hallford was tough, no nonsense, brutally honest, with a dark sense of humor. Without his concise critique and ability to encourage me to think analytically and critically, I would not have been successful in college and beyond.
NPR: What is the theme song for your life?
MT: “Bittersweet Symphony” by The Verve
NPR: Name one thing that changed you so much that it took you a moment to understand what happened?
MT: The shooting of Michael Brown was something that has changed my world view. I know students are complex. They are capable of benevolence and making mistakes. His death was the catalyst for the “Black Lives Matter” movement, but the biggest take away for me was that I felt responsible to prepare little boys and girls of color for the real world. Teaching became a vehicle for social justice to me. I felt compelled to inspire my students to be open minded to people of various backgrounds, to stand up for those who are being bullied, and to thirst for knowledge and education. In addition to teaching my students math and science, I model behaviors that endeavor to get to know, and love, more people who are unlike themselves.
NPR: Recently you took a solo cruise - how was it given that you have introverted side to you like I do?
MT: Making new friendships, and starting conversations with strangers is something that is very hard for me. Many days, I'd be just fine staying home alone and reading a book or watching my favorite television shows and movie. However, when I was a teenager, I realized that in order to successfully navigate the world and have friends, I needed to be outgoing and positive. Extroversion is a learned behavior for me.
Over the years, I have gotten better at appearing to be an extrovert and overruling my introvert nature. I try to set goals and challenges for myself to help me to come out of my shell, talk and get to know new people, and allow them to get to know me. Moving to Wichita, meeting new friends, and creating a support system on my own is one example of challenging my introverted nature. A goal I have for myself is to teach outside of the U.S. and discover a culture very different from my own. I felt a way to challenge myself to meeting that goal would be to go on an international cruise, on my own, and meet new people without having friends or family as a social buffer. I was excited, terrified, and determined to meet new people, embrace new cultures, and just have fun! Mission Accomplished!
NPR: On to the teacher side of you: What is your favorite part of your day at school?
MT: My favorite part of my teaching day is around mid morning to lunch. Usually at this point in the day, I have taught a lesson at least once, had time to improve the lesson, add improvements, then deliver new and improved instruction to my students. I feel like I am in the teacher zone! By mid morning, I have found ways to connect the real world, or pop culture, to the math or science concepts I am teaching for the day, and my students are the most receptive to new information. Once my students and I reach this synergy, that's when class starts getting really fun!
NPR: Which is your favorite subject to teach?
MT: Math and Science. However, I teach my students to view math as a science, or a tool of science. So I suppose it's science.
NPR: How would you describe your teaching style in 3 words?
MT: Entertaining. High-Energy. Unconventional.
NPR: If you could pick just one subject to teach for the rest of your life, what would you choose?
MT: That is tough! At the moment I only teach math, so I'll go with that!
NPR: Have you ever thought about teaching older or younger kids? Maybe even be a professor?
MT: Yes! I think all teachers think about the group they would like to teach based on their teaching style. Middle school students suit me the best. I say this with over 13 years experience working with students from Kindergarten to 7th grade. I don't think I could ever be a professor. I don't have much patience for adults and my teaching style wouldn't work for them.
NPR: What is the one thing that you would change about the public school system to make it better for the kids?
MT: I would change the relationship and trust between parents, teachers, and administration. If we all united with the goal of educating all children to live up to their potential, then we would everything possible to make America’s children succeed.
NPR: What is your 1 year plan? 5 year plan? 10 year plan?
MT: In the next five years, I hope to spend some time teaching overseas. In the next 10-15 years, I hope to complete my administrative credential and move into an education administration position. Perhaps vice principal or principal.
NPR: Any advice for people wanting to go into teaching?
MT: Do it because you love children. Have fun. Otherwise don't waste their time or yours. The world’s children deserve the best teachers and mentors.
NPR: Any last pieces of advice, quotes, words of wisdom that you live by that you’d like to share with everyone?
MT: “Nullius in Verba” This Latin phrase was the motto for the British Royal Society. It translates to “Question Everything” or “Take No One’s Word For It.” This is a phrase I teach my students every year in order to encourage them to stay curious and search for proof. Even if that includes questioning me. The extent of human knowledge is always changing, so do not become complacent or stagnant. Rather, my personal goal, and goal as an educator, is to remain flexible and open to new and expanding pursuits of knowledge.
As you know, I adore you and I hope after this interview everyone will be able to even see a fraction of what I and many others do!
Thank you for your time and I hope we get to check in with you soon to see if those plans are coming to light!
-No Pants Required
