Sherry Garmon thrives knowing that she is making a difference in the lives of students at Bowmar Elementary. Garmon is one of three teachers in the GATES program at Bowmar Elementary geared toward high achievers, and this year she was voted teacher of the year.

She has taught GATES for 25 years, all but two  in the Vicksburg Warren School District. Each year, she helps host the district spelling bee. She has taught at four schools in the VWSD and has taught at Bowmar Elementary for the last nine years.

Garmon loves children and teaching and enjoyed every school where she has worked and has no plans for retirement anytime soon. She says that one of the many things she likes most Bowmar Elementary is that it isn’t a big school.

“I love Bowmar Elementary, we are like a family here,” she said. Garmon knew she wanted to be a teacher when she started college and has taught gifted students the majority of her career.

Garmon works to help her students be the best versions of themselves.

“I can make a difference,” she said as she showed projects her students have completed throughout the year.

“What I like is to see the kids faces light up,” Garmon said.

She also believes that children need goals and she has the students in her class set individual goals every week. At the end of the week she celebrates with the students who have met their goals.

Garmon says the best way to learn is by experience, “hands on learning is the best. Kids learn by doing,” she said.

It is this reasoning that motivates Garmon to make learning fun. She takes her students on educational fieldtrips, has them compete in rounds of quiz bowl and even plays chess with them to activate their minds. “They are like little sponges,” she said.