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Olivia Bartholomew-Schoch discovered her love of reading in fourth grade while attending J.V. Washam Elementary. She credits her teacher, Jessica Mize-Wilson, with nurturing her interest and setting her on the path to becoming an educator.
“She truly is the teacher that instilled that in me and why I'm such an avid reader and lover of books today,” said Bartholomew-Schoch. “Having her teach me and having literacy click for me in my little brain really helped. She made me want to pursue a career in education and specifically go back for my master's in literary education.”
When it came time for Bartholomew-Schoch to student teach this year, it was no surprise that she chose Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and specifically asked to train with Mize-Wilson, who still teaches fourth grade English Language Arts at J.V. Washam.
“I think CMS is a phenomenal school district,” said Bartholomew-Schoch, who also attended Bailey Middle and graduated from William Amos Hough High. “It is one of the largest districts in North Carolina. The way they are able to have all these amazing teachers and schools make it seem like a small district, which I think is really awesome. All of my schools that I've attended in CMS have had phenomenal teachers.”
Mize-Wilson remembers chatting with Bartholomew-Schoch when she was a kindergartner, waiting in the carpool line with her two older brothers. She said she felt like she hit the jackpot when Bartholomew-Schoch landed in her fourth grade class and was honored when she found out her former student would be her student teacher.
“Olivia is a natural teacher,” Mize-Wilson said. “She instantly knows how to meet students where they are, to encourage and motivate them, and build a genuine love of learning and knowledge. The students love her and value the relationships they’ve built with her in such a quick time.”
Bartholomew-Schoch said working with Mize-Wilson has been an incredible experience because she is a phenomenal clinical educator and has included her in every meeting and opportunity to be involved in the school community as a whole. She said she has seen how Mize-Wilson’s teaching has changed and grown over the years, and how she really adapts to what each individual classroom needs.
One thing that hasn’t changed is Mize-Wilson’s directive, “Everybody gets what they need.” As a Type 1 diabetic, Bartholomew-Schoch had unique needs as a student and remembers her teacher working well with her family to help her at every turn.
“That was really impactful for me as a student,” she said. “Now in my future career as an educator, that is something that I really want to bring to all of my future classes – that everybody does get what they need.”
Bartholomew-Schoch said she has been allowed to grow as a teacher and feels ready, more than ever, to be a general education teacher at any elementary school for any grade. She graduated May 10 from Appalachian State University and said she wants to find a permanent spot in CMS.
No one would be more pleased about that than Mize-Wilson, who said it is a highlight of her career to know that the work they did long ago inspired Bartholomew-Schoch to carry that legacy and enhance the teaching profession because of her experiences.
“This is a full circle moment for me where you see your impact in the community and how giving back in the classroom continues,” Mize-Wilson said. “My favorite part of hosting her as a student teacher is just knowing that she's making an impact on the lives of students.”
