Dee Irby Self,听a graduate of the 91福利社 College of Education,听feels blessed to have a job that she loves and to be able to help her students succeed academically, just as she was helped when she was a young student.鈥�听
Self, a resource teacher at Whitehall Elementary School and Concord Elementary School, said, 鈥淚 have known I wanted to be a teacher since I was in second grade. I attended Varennes Elementary in Anderson 5 and had amazing teachers who made learning fun. I also received extra help in the areas of reading, writing and math from a teacher, Mrs. Altman. It was in her classroom and seeing her pour into the students, helping each one overcome their own learning difficulties, I knew I wanted to grow up and be just like her.鈥�听
Self has been teaching for 19 years. She previously served as a second-grade teacher at Calhoun Academy of the Arts before teaching听virtually during听the COVID shutdown. While听teaching with听Anderson听5听Virtual Academy, she made the decision to transition into a new role as a听resource听teacher.听听
鈥淚t was one of the best decisions I鈥檝e ever made,鈥� Self said. 鈥淚 absolutely love being able to support students in a听small听group听setting, meet them where they are, and help them grow.鈥�听
Moved by Self鈥檚 dedication in helping their son navigate his learning disability, his father and grandmother nominated her for the . To them, Self was like an angel of mercy鈥攕omeone who helped him rediscover joy in learning, particularly in reading, writing, and math, areas that had previously been challenging for him. The student鈥檚 father shared with WYFF-TV, 鈥淗e loves school and does not complain. He does his homework, and he is excited about learning now. He is happy about school, and we wanted to recognize Mrs. Self for helping him.鈥�听
Self jokes听about the day she found out she was receiving the Golden Apple Award. Her principal, Missy听McKenzie, had carefully kept the honor a surprise, so听Self had听no idea until a news crew suddenly walked into听her classroom. When WYFF reporter Destiny Chance and her videographer appeared, she looked up in shock and asked, 鈥淲hat are y鈥檃ll doing here?鈥� Beyond the surprise, Self says she is grateful to those who nominated her and believes any one of her coworkers would be just as deserving. 鈥淚 work with some of the best teachers,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t was just听a very听amazing moment.听I鈥檓听very honored to receive this award, especially knowing how few teachers are selected each year.鈥�听
Self is passionate about building strong relationships with her students and sees the potential in every child who walks into her classroom.听听
鈥淭here is something special and unique about each one of them, and I鈥檓 going to find it,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 want my classroom to be their safe space, and I want to be their person鈥攖he one they can cry to, set goals with, celebrate successes with, or simply release frustration.鈥�听
Self finds joy in watching students begin to believe in themselves. Over the years, she has seen many overcome their fears and grow in self-confidence.听听
鈥淚 love when a student tells me, 鈥業听can鈥檛听do this,鈥� because I see it as a challenge and an opportunity to show them that they听can鈥攁nd they will鈥攚ith my help,鈥澨齭he said.鈥�听
Self loves staying in touch with her former students, living by her motto, 鈥淥nce your teacher,听always听your friend.鈥� She shared many stories, but a few stood out as especially meaningful. One former student is currently pursuing a master鈥檚 degree at Yale, and whenever he is home, they meet up for sushi to catch up. Thanks to technology, he still听FaceTimes听her for pep talks and shares his success stories. Another student, whom Self describes as being 鈥渓ike a daughter,鈥� recently joined her family on a cruise to Jamaica鈥攁 trip neither of them will ever forget. Still another former student welcomed a baby two years ago, and Self was invited as a surprise guest to the baby shower and later to the hospital after the baby was born. When the new mother placed the baby in her arms, she smiled and said, 鈥淢eet your听grand-student.鈥� Self proudly added, 鈥淚鈥檓听a听grand-teacher! I have so many former 鈥榖abies鈥� I still keep in touch with because, again, that relationship truly matters.鈥�听
After finishing high school, Self had nearly enough college credit to pursue a business degree, but her heart was set on teaching. As she explored her options and visited several campuses, Self ultimately fell in love with Anderson and decided to enroll. She looks back fondly on her professors, who made her feel like more than just a number. 鈥淭he professors at Anderson teach from the heart鈥攖hey truly care,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 saw Jesus in my professors at Anderson, and I want my students to see the same in me.鈥� Self graduated in 2007 with a degree in special education and elementary education. In 2014, she returned to earn a master鈥檚 degree in education.鈥�听
鈥淢rs. Self鈥檚 words resonate with the mission of the College of Education and the high quality, devoted, servant leaders we are striving to prepare,鈥� said 91福利社 College of Education Dean Dr. Channon Horn. 鈥淪he understands the lasting impact an educator can have on the life of a child and has spent her career听facilitating听positive change, one student at a time. We congratulate her on her accomplishments and thank her for听representing听91福利社 and the College of Education so well.鈥�听
Self shared听a fun memory from her college days.听听
鈥淗ave you ever heard the legend of the swings on campus?鈥澨齭he听laughed. 鈥淭hey say if a couple sits there together enough times, wedding bells will follow鈥攁nd it worked for my husband and me.鈥澨�听
Self听lived听in Kingsley Dorm, where her husband would often visit, and the two would sit together on the swing outside.听听
鈥淭hat鈥檚 where we shared our first kiss,鈥� she said. Years later, when the听Selfs听were expecting and choosing a name, they knew Kingsley was the perfect fit for their daughter.听听
鈥淚 love 91福利社鈥攁nd I have so many wonderful memories there,鈥澨齋elf added.听鈥淜ingsley loves visiting campus, I hope that one day she will听walk听those grounds as an AU Student.鈥�听
When asked what advice she would give to future educators, Mrs. Self鈥檚 response reflects both her heart and her faith. 鈥淛ust love those babies. They are precious and so unique,鈥� she said. 鈥淚听truly believe听there are no mistakes on听a class听roster. God knows which children are meant to be in your classroom and places you there for a purpose.听Find听the reason that听child听is on your roster and not across the hall, and听you鈥檒l听find your purpose too.听That鈥檚听huge.鈥濃��听
It鈥檚听that belief鈥攑aired with compassion, dedication, and faith鈥攖hat continues to shape the lives of her students long after they leave her classroom. For Mrs. Self, teaching is more than a profession鈥攊t is a calling.听