[Story by Emily Hughitt]

This year Juakana Nelson will begin her 24th year of her teaching career, and her 21st year of teaching at Brookesmith ISD, where she has taught second grade for 15 years. She said she knew when she graduated high school that teaching had been her passion since she was a young teen doing rodeo.

“I always had a kid with me, in front of my saddle,” Nelson said. “I was always showing them how to do something, and I really enjoyed it. Then I started giving riding lessons to people, and I really enjoyed that as well.”

Nelson began teaching junior high in 2001 at Lohn ISD, until she moved to Brookesmith where she started teaching third through fifth grade.

“The elementary is just so much fun. Second grade has absolutely been my most favorite grade of all,” she said.

Nelson’s favorite teacher growing up was Melody Shane, who taught her at Brookesmith Elementary as a kid.

“She was a tough teacher, but she was such a wonderful teacher,” Nelson added. “She was a great role model and leader.”

The Nowlins were some of her favorite teachers in high school.

“They had both graduated from Howard Payne,” Nelson said. “They were really great Christian role models for all the students.”

The most rewarding part of being a teacher to Nelson is seeing her kids grow up.

“It’s so amazing that we’re able to keep track of our students from the time they start in Pre-K to when they graduate high school,” Nelson said.

Nelson added that although new technology could be scary for older teachers, it is ultimately an exciting aspect of the future of education.

“The new technology we have out there to use, make teaching more interesting and fun.” Nelson graduated high school in Rochelle and went to Howard Payne University for college.

She has two kids who graduated as valedictorians from Brookesmith. Her son works at Superior Maintenance Co. Her daughter is an RN at Shannon Hospital in San Angelo.