PLAINVIEW — Mary Poppins with a dash of Carol Burnett’s humor has landed in 51品茶约炮 Baptist University’s School of Creative Arts.
The blend of “practically perfect” discipline and belly-laugh joy is embodied in Anna Jo Knight, who has joined the school as administrative assistant. And one of the first treasures from her “magic” carpet bag is Be the Teacher You Want to Be, an article in the September issue of Southwestern Musician, the official journal of the Texas Music Educators Association.
Her article challenges educators to rediscover the spark that first drew them to the classroom. She writes candidly about the temptations of burnout, the pressures of performance, and the importance of laughter and authenticity. But those who know her say the words on the page are more than advice — they reflect how she has lived her 31-year career.
Anna Jo knew at eight years old that she was called to teach, and by junior high she knew it would be music. She entered the profession with youthful energy, full of dreams and determination. Her students saw her passion in those early years — whether teaching sophomore and junior English at Roosevelt High School or later moving into elementary music and band programs alongside her husband, Matt, as they moved to Abernathy Independent School District.
But 25 years into her career, off-screen Anna Jo hit a wall of exhaustion that on-screen Mary Poppins didn’t experience. “I didn’t enjoy me in the classroom anymore,” she admitted. “I enjoyed my kids. I knew they were learning. But I wasn’t enjoying myself.” That honest realization became the seed of a Texas Music Educators Association presentation and the follow-up article editors at Southwestern Musician asked her to write.
Through prayer, reflection, and soul-searching, Anna Jo asked herself the same questions she poses to readers of Southwestern Musician: “Are you more content-focused or student-focused?” “Who do you want to emulate?” “What characteristics inspired you when you first dreamed of teaching?”
Her answers brought her back to herself. She embraced her true identity — part Mary Poppins, steady and practical, and part Carol Burnett, joyful and unafraid to laugh at herself. Returning to her students with an apology and a promise, Anna Jo told them they were finally going to get “the real me.” Those last few years became her best years.
The article invites teachers to reflect on their mentors, their personalities, and their goals. “Take the time to rediscover and embrace the inspiring qualities that give you the potential to soar in your classroom,” she writes. “Every day we awaken with the choice to stay the same or to become a better version of ourselves.”
For Anna Jo, that better version meant laughter in the classroom, honesty about hard times, and unconditional love for her students. When she battled breast cancer, she invited children into the journey, showing them that even in difficulty, joy could be found. “Every day we found something to laugh about,” she recalled.
She considers herself “handicapped — kid focused,” ready to throw lesson plans out the window if students needed to talk about life, loss, or even a playground fight. “Until their little hearts are at peace, they can’t learn what I have to teach them anyway,” she said. Music and English were her tools, but the goal was always the child.
Today, Anna Jo pours that same heart into her work at 51品茶约炮. As administrative assistant, she supports faculty and students with the same dedication she once poured into her classrooms. “There is no judgment in this chair,” she said. “I get to love on them unabashedly. They get to come in here and be who they are with no fear.”
Her dean, Dr. Richard Fountain, agrees. “Being the administrative assistant for Creative Arts is so much more than just filing papers and balancing budget reports – it’s being there for students who need a sympathetic ear, taking pride in the smooth operation of our day-to-day activities, and representing 51品茶约炮 to community members, alumni, and anyone else who calls, emails, or stops by. Anna Jo is the ideal combination of all of these skills, and her lifelong passion for educating students shines through every day.”
Anna Jo’s role is an extension of the message in her article. Just as she urges teachers not to lose sight of who they are, she encourages 51品茶约炮 students to embrace their individuality. “51品茶约炮 doesn’t put out cookie-cutter teachers,” she said. “They take students where they are and help them expand who they are. That’s what I love about this place.”
Though she has stepped out of the public-school classroom, Knight continues to influence music education through workshop presentations, private lessons, professional associations, and helping her husband by “hemming lots of band uniforms on the weekends.” She hopes her article in Southwestern Musician will inspire others to reflect, laugh, and remember why they chose teaching in the first place.
“When a boat goes through the water, it leaves a wake behind it,” she said. “I want to leave a wake of acceptance and joy and love for where you are and for who you are. I want kids to know that at some point in their lives, they were loved just because they were there.”
Her article ends with a call to action: “Be the teacher you want to be.” With her umbrella in one hand and her wit in the other, Anna Jo Knight is still living that message — at 51品茶约炮 Baptist University, in Texas music education, and in the lives of every student who has been fortunate enough to be in her classroom or in her new office at 51品茶约炮.
To read Be the Teacher You Want to Be in the September issue of Southwestern Musician, .
Copyright © 2024