Nancy Taylor: Greene Publishing, Inc.
When school begins on Monday, Aug. 14 at New Testament Christian School (NTCS), there will be two new teachers to greet the students.
Wanda Cruce Hughey comes to NTCS with 33 years of teaching experience. She will be teaching third and fourth grades. Most recently, she taught at Aucilla Christian Academy where she worked with K4, second, fourth and fifth grades for 20 years. During that time, she also taught American History to sixth and eighth grades. According to Hughey, “My roots ran deep at Aucilla as my parents helped start that school.”
The remaining 13 years of her prior teaching experience were divided among Perry Primary School, Madison Academy and Greenville Elementary.
Hughey feels very strongly that God orchestrated her arrival at NTCS. She wanted a change and to work closer to home, so she could spend more time with her family. She also wanted to teach a lower grade and have fewer students.
Having taught in the Madison school system with Debbie Pittman, Hughey is excited to have the opportunity to now teach with Pittman’s daughter (Vanessa Pittman Fultz).
Hughey was inspired to become a teacher because she has a great love of children.
Her favorite part of teaching includes interacting with students and being a part of watching and helping them become all God intends for them to be.
When asked what she has learned during her years of teaching, her response was quick and emphatic. “Listen! You will learn them and how best to teach them and how to help them become what God intends.”
The lesson she most wants to share with her students is that they are each a master creation made by the Master Creator.
Hughey holds an Associate of Arts degree from North Florida Junior College (NFJC (currently NFCC), and a Bachelor of Science in Education from Valdosta State College (currently University). She holds a current Florida teaching certificate in early childhood and elementary education.
Hughey is married to Jim Hughey. They have a daughter, Lydia Hughey Davis; a son-in-law, Ryan; a son, Ward; and a grandson Cole Davis.
In her spare time, Hughey loves to travel (especially to historic places), to read and antique. Her favorite pastime, however, is spending time with her grandson.
The second teacher being welcomed to NTCS in the fall is Vanessa Pittman Fultz. Upon arrival, she will be teaching seventh and eighth grade science, social studies, English and bible. She will also teach high school English. This upcoming year will be Fultz’s third year in the classroom.
Fultz holds the distinction of being the very first graduate of NTCS. Beyond high school, Fultz graduated from NFCC and went on to VSU where she earned a bachelor’s degree in English with an emphasis in journalism and a minor in creative writing.
Prior to becoming a teacher, Fultz spent the first ten years following her graduation in jobs that involved a great deal of writing. During that time, she was employed at the Suwannee Democrat newspaper as a news reporter. Following that time, she worked with the Suwannee River Water Management District as a communications specialist.
“My long-time dream is to become an author, so both of these careers were great opportunities for me,” said Fultz. “However, over the years, I’ve realized I wanted to do more than write. I wanted to work more closely with people to teach, and to inspire. I decided to go into the field of teaching because this career seemed to be a good fit for my goals,” she continued.
“A teacher’s reach goes far beyond academics. As an English teacher, I have had the privilege of sharpening my students’ reading comprehension and communication skills. However, I relish the opportunity to teach them life skills such as confidence, goal-setting, hard work, determination, and the list goes on. Teaching students how to analyze (a) text on (a) deeper level and how to express themselves effectively in writing is a joy. It is an even greater joy to inspire students to dream big and grieve them tools to achieve their dreams for their life. That’s why I teach,” said Fultz.
Fultz feels that apart from God, society’s greatest resource is their children. “When we invest in them, we are investing in our future and in eternity. When we see potential in them and let them know we believe in them, great things happen. We witness growth occurring in them that is just amazing,” said Fultz.
Some of the most important lessons Fultz has learned from her students are to have fun, laugh and not take things too seriously. She feels she tends to be too serious, she says her students have helped her loosen up a bit. Teaching middle school were some that she considers to be among the happiest years of her life.
Fultz is a Madison County native, born and raised here. She and her husband, Joel, have been married for 24 years, and they have two sons – Noah and Caleb, both of whom will be attending NTCS this school year. In her spare time (which occurs sparingly), she enjoys reading, writing and photography. She does hope to eventually have her children’s book published.