Laneka Allen is a Madison County Central School teacher with plenty of experience.
Allen, an 8th grade social studies, U.S. history and career planning teacher is originally from Miami, but she didn’t come straight from Miami to here.
Allen graduated from Ft. Valley State University in Ft. Valley, Ga., with a degree in middle grade education and is currently working on a Masters on curriculum and instruction with the University of Phoenix online and in the process of completing her practicum at MCCS.
Before teaching in Madison, Allen has taught in schools in Miami, Birmingham, Al., Nashville, Tn. Macon, Ga., Thomasville, Ga. and Valdosta.
Her love for children inspired her to become a teacher. “I want to be responsible for helping them grow into responsible, productive citizens of society that are willing to serve whether with their talent, their mind or [by] just being kind,” said Allen.
She wishes to be able to teach them rules and authority.
The legacy that she wishes to leave behind to her students is a venerable one, “I want to be remembered as the teacher that made the student think outside the box,” said Allen. “Even if it’s just one little thing that they learned from me that they did not know before, I want them to remember me for that.”
Allen’s job, while it does have its difficult moments, is made easier by the fact that she truly enjoys being around her students, saying that they keep her both young at heart and on her toes.
But instead of finding the constant need to be alert and “in the know” around her students stressful, Allen says it’s her favorite part of her job.
Tying in with that, Allen states that her students have taught her to always be ready.
“Always be prepared,” said Allen. “I’ve also learned to be consistent and to stick to your word, because they will call you on it.”
Furthermore, interacting with her students has taught her to take into account everyone you deal with and not judge a book by its cover. “You don’t know what others are going through and what they have to deal with when they leave here and what they have to go through to get here,” said Allen, who continues by saying that her students have taught her to dig a little deeper into the people she interacts with.
Residing in Valdosta, Ga., Allen has two sons ages eight and four, who she loves very much.
When she isn’t in the classroom or with her students, Allen says she loves shopping and dancing. “I’m a great dancer,” said Allen who is very active in her community; Allen states that dancing has actually led into her community activities.
