Educators are a vital part of our society. No matter what grade they are teaching, they are making an impact on the next generation. Elizabeth Wilson is a teacher but that was not her original career path.

“My road to being an educator looks different than most,” she said. “I was in my third year of college, where I was studying to be an optometrist, when I was asked to tutor a seventh grade math student. It was during those following weeks of tutoring that I realized just how much of an impact I could have if I become a classroom teacher.”

After she graduated college, Wilson’s teaching career started in her hometown of Elk City. And that is where she has now been teaching Algebra I to freshmen for 12 years. 

As a student, Elizabeth had a number of teachers that had a big impact on her and helped her get to where she is today.

“I had so many amazing teachers growing up in Elk City,” she stated. “From kindergarten to high school, each teacher impacted my life in a different way. There are, however, a few teachers I try to model my own teaching after. The first would be my AP Government & Politics teacher, Mr. Black. He taught with both humor and passion, which made each day an adventure. Next would be my Algebra II & PreCalc teacher, Mrs. Snipes. She challenged my thinking every day which helped grow my love of math. And finally, I hope I am as patient, kind, and understanding with my students as all my elementary teachers were with me.”

Elizabeth and her husband Jesse have two children, Brooklyn and Shade. When she is not in the classroom, she loves to be with her family.

“When I am not teaching, I enjoy spending time with my family, taking road trips, going to concerts, and watching my nieces play sports.”

Throughout her teaching career, Wilson has been given a number of pieces of advice, but she has one that she tries to remember every day.

“Give yourself and your students permission to make mistakes,” she said. “That is some of the best advice I have ever received.”