In elementary school, Angela Harris was a bit of a talker.

Most of the time, she remembered, she wanted to talk about whatever subject matter her class was studying. But, she admitted, that was not the only time she wanted to chatter.

“There were times,” she said, honestly and with a chuckle, “that I was just talking.”

Having been talkative in school, Harris handles it well when her students want to chat. She knows, as a teacher, that the trick is to make sure students are talking about the lesson.

“I try to make sure their talk is related to the content of the lesson,” she said. “Really, if you can keep students talking about a subject, keep them engaged, then you can make the lesson more meaningful.”

This is Harris’ 14th year of teaching, having worked in Clarke County before coming to Oconee. She has taught a variety of ages, but loves the third-grade students she now teaches at Rocky Branch Elementary.

“In third grade, students are still eager to learn, but they are also gaining some independence,” Harris said. “It is a wonderful age to teach because they always strive to do their best.”

Recently, Harris’ third-grade students had something to really cheer about. Over the morning announcements, they learned their teacher was this year’s Teacher of the Year for Rocky Branch Elementary.

“They were cheering and clapping,” their teacher said. “They were all really excited.”

Harris is excited, also, and said being a TOTY is “really an honor.” She loves her profession, and said she always felt she was “meant to be a teacher.”

“Nothing awe-inspiring happened to me when I was young that convinced me to be a teacher,” she said. “But, for as long as I can remember, I always wanted to teach.”

Harris started teaching after receiving degrees at Young Harris College and the University of Georgia. She balances her teaching career with raising a family. She and her husband, Brian, have two daughters, Emily, 10, and Elizabeth, seven.

Her daughters attend Rocky Branch, and Harris said she enjoys sharing the same school calendar as her children, as well as being in the same building with them.

“I love that I am so in touch with my daughter’s education,” she said. “I love that I can see them in the hall and give them a hug.”

Showing she is a good mother as well as a good teacher, Harris admitted the hugs may have to stop one day.

“When they get older, they don’t want mom to embarrass them,” she said, laughing.

For now, she will enjoy dispensing the hugs, just as she enjoys coming to work every day. As for what she enjoys best about her job, Harris said it is the moments when you know you have been successful in helping your students understand a subject.

“It is the success stories in teaching that keep you coming back,” she said. “When you find a strategy that works, and you know your student gets it, then that is a success story.”

Mary Anne Carroll is a reporter for The Oconee Leader. She can be reached at 706-310-1104 or by email at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

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