The 2025-2026 academic year is in motion. Over the past 33 years, August has been a month of reflecting and re-envisioning for me. My career as an educator started in the fall of 1992, when I served as a graduate teaching assistant at Jackson State University while studying to earn my M.A. in English. This year marks the sixth anniversary of my return to JSU to teach in the Department of English and Modern Languages.
Decades of observing, listening and learning have afforded me some extraordinary experiences and inspiring stories to draw from as I set goals and make plans for each new semester. I believe that educators know they’re at their zenith when they can see the outcome of their teaching in former students’ careers, but nothing outclasses a student’s testimony. This thought rested at the forefront of my mind several months ago when I learned that two women whom I hold in high esteem are connected through a student-teacher bond, nurtured more than 10 years ago in the same department that shaped my life in so many ways.
Last December while I was social-media surfing, I received a friend request from Jessica M. Lewis, who is entering her 12th year of teaching in my hometown, Brookhaven, Mississippi. A fellow JSU graduate, she earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and later obtained a master’s degree in education with an emphasis in curriculum and instruction from Arkansas State University. For more than a decade, she taught fifth- and sixth-grade English language arts and science. This year, she was promoted to a new role as academic coach at Mamie Martin Elementary School. Receiving the notification from her instantly evoked warmth. I had not seen her in years and was elated to reconnect.
Shortly after I accepted, we had a brief but resonant Messenger conversation that started in typical fashion.
“Hey, Lady! How are you?” I asked.
She texted simultaneously, “Hello doll. How are you??”
Her answer came through before mine, “I’m great. Thanks for asking.”
I responded, “I’m well. It’s so nice to receive a friend request from you! Happy New Year!”
As she steered our chat in a more tangible direction, the motivation behind her outreach became clear, and it was refreshing for me as an educator.
“I just saw your name on one of Professor Granderson-Little’s posts,” she replied.
“Yes, that’s my colleague. She is so awesome,” I proudly declared.
“She taught me and encouraged me so much while I attended JSU. I just love her.” Jessica’s voice as a former student who is still encouraged by Monica Granderson-Little’s teaching is a testament to the latter’s transformative practices.
I knew that Monica and I would start the spring 2025 semester with the best conversation ever, and I looked forward to relaying Jessica’s every word. On the first day of the term, she and I crossed paths in a fourth-floor hallway of the Dollye M.E. Robinson Liberal Arts Building.
“Guess what, girl. I talked to one of your former students over the holidays, Jessica Lewis. I think her last name would have been ‘Jointer’ when you taught her. She’s from my hometown.”
“Yeah. I remember Jessica. She stood out because she respected authority. I never had to argue with her about anything.”
We both laughed.
I understand fully why a colleague would value such a trait and how difficult it is, in general, to navigate increasingly entitled attitudes in the classroom. More substantial than Monica’s words was her smile as she recounted additional details about Jessica.
“Jessica wanted to be the best student she could be, so she was always looking for opportunities to be better. Honestly, I could not ask for a nicer student. I wish I had more like her.”
On average, a professor teaches between 100 and 300 individuals per year, so a student who manages to hold favorable space on any professor’s radar, especially years down the road, is an exemplary individual. Monica praised the JSU alumna for being an active learner who understood how to advocate for herself while displaying critical thought and intellectualism.
“Having Jessica as a student made me want to do everything I could to ensure students had several chances to excel in my classes. She made me want to give the best that I could.”
When the student leaves a meaningful mark on the educator, that is the summa cum laude of classroom success stories. When the student enters her career and pays forward important lessons learned, that is education actualized.
As a JSU student, Jessica took two of Monica’s courses, English/Composition II and World Literature. In an extended conversation, I learned a great deal more about her admiration for my colleague.
By her account, “Professor Granderson-Little always made the subject area appealing. She repeatedly told us that it’s harder to read beyond the surface if you don’t relate.”
Jessica continued, “We would often talk beyond the textbook. She took time to listen to her students, and she would always encourage us—even when our papers were filled with red ink. She was one professor who made herself available even outside of her office hours, and I always thought she was admirable for that.”
Now that Jessica is serving in a position of support for not only students but also teachers and staff, she collaborates with administrators and other professionals to ensure that each student is receiving the best educational experience possible.
Reiterating the significance of Monica’s footprint, Jessica explained, “Because of how she conducted herself in the classroom, I have always held a high level of respect for Professor Granderson-Little. Even as a freshman, hanging out late with my friends on the plaza and various events around campus, I always wanted to make sure that I didn’t miss her class. And I wanted her assignments to be my best work. She enhanced my love for writing and engaging with literature, but she was one of several who made Jackson State feel like home and a place of belonging.”
I share Jessica’s reverence for Monica, also a JSU alumna who received the honor of Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers. Known across campus for her firmness, she makes her teaching philosophy clear: “Your lack of preparation does not constitute an emergency on my part.”
“I teach students to be prepared not only in my class but in life. Many of them come in thinking they can pass classes on extra credit and attendance. I stress to them that they have to put in the work to be successful, which requires extensive reading and timely submission of all assignments.”
Viewing college courses as trial runs for careers, Monica sees the individuals in her classrooms as future leaders. That is the basis of her interactions with them.
She is a member of the Mississippi Council of Teachers of English, Sigma Tau Delta, Chi Alpha Epsilon, Alpha Epsilon Lambda and the Jackson State University National Alumni Association.
Her service to the JSU community includes establishing a chapter of Chi Alpha Epsilon, a developmental honor society; designing and implementing ENG 230/Survey of Urban Literature; and chairing the African American Read-In. The AARI is an initiative by the National Council of Teachers of English and is held annually during Black History Month to celebrate and promote African American literature. Every year, I am moved by her energy and high level of commitment to engaging students in quality AARI events.
Teaching is a neverending process of learning. My best resources have been other teachers. In their narratives, I find support and optimism in a field that is becoming increasingly more thankless. Jessica’s friend request was serendipitous. So were my subsequent conversations with her and Monica. I felt activated by their mutual sentiments of respect for each other as well as the phenomenal work they’re doing in Mississippi schools and communities.
Their collective story is one of empowerment, educators for educators, women supporting women and sisterhood. It is also a testament to the strength of our alma mater and the JSU Department of English and Modern Languages’ propensity for shaping lives while preparing students to become leaders in their communities.
This MFP Voices opinion essay reflects the personal opinion of its author(s). The column does not necessarily represent the views of the Mississippi Free Press, its staff or board members. To submit an opinion for the MFP Voices section, send up to 1,200 words and sources fact-checking the included information to voices@mississippifreepress.org. We welcome a wide variety of viewpoints.