CLARENDON COUNTY, S.C. — From working in the cafeterias to being a substitute teacher, our next News19 Teacher of the Week has done it all for her students.
Tanika Bowman returned to her alma mater, Scott's Branch Middle/High School in Clarendon County, to teach.
“I know everybody. I know the students. I know how to actually deal with them. I know how to cope with them. I know the level to be on with them,” says Bowman. “I love the kids. I love the students. I am a people's person.”
For the past 27 years, you could have found Bowman all throughout the Clarendon County School District.
After graduating from Claflin University, she started working as a cafeteria worker at Scott's Branch Middle/High School. She transitioned to being a substitute teacher at the same school then she went through the AmeriCorps program before becoming a fulltime teacher.
“When they graduate. I want to be that person that they say 'Ms. Bowman helped me here,' or 'Ms. Bowman did this for me.' I want to be there,” says Bowman.
She worked for eight years in special education at Scott's Branch before moving to the Promise School where she now teaches.
“This world out there is nothing to play with. I just want them to come in, get what they need, and just go with it. Do the best," says Bowman. "Do the best that they can and give it their all.”
Bowman is also a coach and often you can find her with her track and field team.
“Having Coach Bowman as a coach, she's like a best friend. Funny, real funny, very funny. Stays on me, fusses at me, but it's just all funny games,” says Ziaier Bryant, a student at Scott's Branch Middle/High School.
“She stays on us about school. Make sure we get everything done before we even head out to the track. She makes sure everybody's work done, like homework and all that," says Bryant. "If I don't have friends to talk to, I could just talk to Coach Bowman.”
“Ms. Bowman puts 100% in what she does. She, you know, engages with the students. Not only does she do it just about academics, she also checks on, you know, how everything's going at home. Those type things. So the students are really comfortable in her classroom, and that makes the difference," says Principal Tyronne Cummings.
“I feel wonderful. I mean, I feel wonderful. Well deserved,” says Bowman.
If you know a teacher like Tanika Bowman who deserves to be recognized for their hard work in the classroom, you can nominate them by emailing us at TOW@WLTX.COM. Tell us what that educator is doing every day to go above and beyond in the classroom.