Gracie Sanderson, a Graves County High School senior and this week's Murray State University Teen of the Week, plans to one day serve her community as an elementary school educator.
She said she hopes to bring a new perspective to the position in hopes of changing stereotypes about the field.
Sanderson maintains a 3.9 GPA. She is a cheerleader in college and has been on the team all four of her years in high school. She serves on the Yearbook Committee and the District 1 All-Academic Team. Ms. Sanderson is also a member of the Educators Rising Council, an organization that continues to inspire her to become a teacher.
“It really opened my eyes to being a teacher and helping in the classroom,” Sanderson said. “The number of teachers is very limited. The salary is not high, so there are not many people who want to work as teachers.”
Due to her determination and passion for education, Ms. Sanderson plans to pursue a degree in Elementary Education from Murray State University. She credits her former fifth grade teacher with inspiring her to become an educator.
After earning her degree, Sanderson plans to return to Farmington Elementary School in Graves County to teach kindergarten.
“I feel like I can use the skills that I have learned, not just in high school, but when I get to college, I want to use my skills and give them back to my community. “It's kind of where I grew up,” she said.
Heather Miller, who was named the 2023 Kentucky Teachers Council English Teacher of the Year, said Sanderson has a great balance between school and social life. Miller said Sanderson's quick thinking and practical problem-solving skills set him apart from his colleagues.
“Gracie has talked about her dreams of becoming an elementary school teacher, and I have no doubt that she will excel in this field,” Miller said. “I am confident that she will continue to make meaningful contributions to the community and beyond.”
Sanderson wants others to never let fear control them.
“When you let fear control you, you miss out on a lot of good opportunities,” Sanderson said.
