A lifelong resident of Brownwood has devoted her professional career to guiding the youth of the community on an educational journey, as Pettis Allgood is preparing for her 27th year as an elementary school teacher.
Allgood, who attended school at Brownwood ISD and college at Howard Payne University, is living out her dream.
“I’ve literally always wanted to teach,” Allgood said. “When I was in kindergarten I said I’d be a teacher.”
Her passion for teaching dates back to her days in elementary school.
“Mrs. Franks, who taught 2nd grade at South Elementary, brought so much fun and learning to the classroom,” Allgood said in reference to who inspired her to pursue a teaching career.
Allgood has been teaching first grade at Coggin Elementary for the past three years after spending most of her time at Brownwood ISD at Northwest Elementary.
“I love this age,” Allgood said of teaching first-graders. “They are learning so much and for the most part they love to learn, so it’s exciting when they have the little ‘aha’ moments and finally get something that’s been hard for them. Watching their eyes light up is the best.”
Also during her teaching tenure, Allgood was an assistant for three years at Northwest Elementary. The first year of teaching her own class was third grade Science and Social Studies at Coggin Elementary, and now she has returned to her BISD teaching roots.
“It’s a huge blessing to be a positive influence to these kids,” Allgood said. “Not all have that these days and I want to be someone they can trust and know that I’ll always be here for them. Having the kids I have taught in the past come back to see me and remind me that I am really making a difference in so many little lives means so much.”
As for the drive she has to continue to make an impact on the youth of Brownwood, Allgood said, “There’s not really another job that I can even see myself doing. This is all I know and love, even on the hard days.”
Allgood has been been married to her husband, Brad, for 31 years, and the couple has two children and three grandchildren.
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BrownwoodNews.com will highlight one Brown County educator per day in the month of July, based on nominations received on our Facebook page, for our Teacher Feature series.
