I am a graduate of Lamar High School and Mississippi State University. GO DAWGS!!!  I received my B.S. Degree in Elementary Education with emphasis in Reading. I’m currently completing my Masters in School Counseling. Over the past 27 years, I have had the opportunity to teach Kindergarten, 1st, 3rd, 5th, 6th, and 7th grades in both Mississippi and Alabama.  I’m married to Bo Pittman and we have two children, Jami and Ryan.

Understanding Middle School Students

Today’s young people are living in an exciting time, with an increasingly diverse society, new technologies, and expanding opportunities. To help ensure they are prepared to become the next generation of parents, workers, leaders, and citizens, every student needs support, guidance, and opportunities during adolescence, a time of rapid growth and change. Early adolescents face unique and diverse challenges, both personally and developmentally, that have an impact on academic achievement.

Developmental Needs

Middle school is an exciting, yet challenging time for students, parents and teachers. During this passage from childhood to adolescence, middle school students are characterized by a need to explore a variety of interests, connecting their learning in the classroom to its practical application in life and work; high levels of activity coupled with frequent fatigue due to rapid growth; a search for their own unique identity as they begin turning more frequently to peers rather than parents for ideas and affirmation; extreme sensitivity to the comments from others; and heavy reliance on friends to provide comfort, understanding and approval.