During her clinical teaching experience at Woodland Heights Elementary School in Brownwood, HPU December graduate Zoe Sprayberry learned many practical lessons for classroom management, teaching preparation and how to care for students. Sprayberry worked in Mary Lehrer’s fifth grade class and loved the opportunity to put her education into practice. Upon graduation, she will begin as a fourth grade teacher at Northwest Elementary School in January.

“My clinical teaching experience was so valuable because you cannot fully understand what the classroom is going to be like without experiencing it,” Sprayberry said. “It challenged me in my patience, in learning all the different types of kids and their different needs. I had to adjust to each and every one of them. It’s very interesting to see how kids learn in different ways or respond in different ways. I also learned a lot about myself.”

Lehrer enjoyed having Sprayberry in her classroom and giving her the opportunity to have first-hand experience with students.

“Zoe came into my classroom ready to teach and build relationships with students,” said Lehrer. “She was well-prepared for the classroom with her coursework from HPU and experience working with children through church. My students loved having her in the classroom and having her teach them, as well as being available to help them.”

Originally from Bonham, Sprayberry decided to come to HPU because she was recruited to play tennis. She double-majored in math education and Christian education with an emphasis in church leadership. While a student, she was involved in many extracurricular activities including chapel band, Delta Epsilon Omega, Baptist Student Ministry Lead Team, intramurals and Ministerial Alliance, as well as a leader for Jacket Journey and an intern at Coggin Avenue Baptist Church.

She is thankful for all she learned during her time as a student at HPU, and the preparation she received through the Department of Education.

“HPU is an amazing place to go for a degree in education,” she said. “I learned a lot and feel really prepared for my job that I’m starting in a few weeks. It was a really solid program and I feel really prepared going into my career.”

Dr. Mike Rosato, dean of the School of Education and Fine Arts, said Sprayberry is a great example of the kind of graduates that HPU produces – those who will go on to make a positive impact in education in their community. Currently, there are more than 160 HPU alumni who serve as teachers and administrators in Brown County alone.

“We are so proud of Zoe and are looking forward to how the Lord will continue to use her to impact countless lives in her future classrooms over the years,” said Dr. Rosato. “Our goal in the Department of Education at HPU is to prepare the very best Christian educators to serve wherever God leads them. Zoe certainly is an excellent example of fulfilling this significant goal.”

Sprayberry is also excited to stay in Brownwood and pour into the community through her new teaching job at Northwest Elementary.

“I fell in love with Brownwood from being at Howard Payne,” she said. “I love how supportive the community is and am thankful this is where God has led me.”

Registration for spring 2025 is open. For more information, visit www.hputx.edu/enroll.