Deja Moss was granted Wakefield High School’s Teacher of the Year award on Oct. 11 for her love of helping students both in and out of the classroom and being a pillar of support and guidance for anyone who needs it. This award is more than a title; it shows the impact Moss has left on the people in this school, as a companion and a leader to every colleague and student she comes across.
This semester, Moss teaches AP African American History and World History. However, she has been in education for 10 years.
“I just decided to take up the opportunity to learn how to teach and it came naturally,” Moss said. “I would say teaching found me.”
Since then, she has consistently shown her passion beyond simply going through material and coursework, making sure her students understand what she’s teaching and supporting them through whatever they’re struggling with. Moss has had a variety of students in her classes, and even those who might not be completely passionate about the subject or are just trying to earn credit will never find themselves lacking in a teacher who helps them however she can.
“I love it when students feel comfortable enough to ask for help,” Moss said. “That’s my favorite part, being able to provide to them written, printed, digital, or verbal support to help them complete a task.”
Jada Jewell is a senior this year and took Moss’s AP Psychology class as a sophomore and is currently taking her AP African American History class this semester. She admires that Moss avoids beating around the bush and her style of teaching that keeps the class on track. Jewell appreciates that her teacher sees her students more as equals, allowing openness and mutual trust in the classroom environment.
“I feel like a lot of students can talk to [Ms. Moss] and she can also talk to them,” Jewell said. “She’s very straightforward and to the point so she’s very real at having conversations.”
It’s safe to say that Moss is an outstanding mentor to her colleagues just as much as she is to her students. Joseph Grant, who teaches World History and AP Psychology this year at Wakefield High School after transitioning from middle school, sees Moss as a leader who strives to accomplish what will best benefit her coworkers and her classes alike. One of the reasons he believes she deserves the title of Teacher of the Year is because she is driven, well organized and a good leader.
“Having her as a PLC (Professional Learning Community) lead made my transition from middle to high school a lot smoother than it might have otherwise been,” Grant said. “We’re the best PLC in the department and that’s because of the way she leads it.”
Noah Ngam, another senior who’s been in both her AP Psychology and African American History classes is thankful for what she’s done for him throughout his time in high school. The skills that he’s learned from her are more than just for busy work or something he’ll forget, but the knowledge that will one day be used in real-life experiences. It’s one of the reasons Ngam believes she earned her award.
“I think Ms. Moss won Teacher of the Year because of the way she conducts her classes, [helping] students reach their full potential,” Ngam said. “She helps us prepare for the real world.”
Moss herself was honored to be able to achieve this accomplishment. She expressed that there were many great candidates and believes that if there was a reason why she won, it was because of her dedication to helping anyone she’s able to.
“I love helping students who are either on my roster or who are just coming with a friend to have a quiet space to do work,” Moss said. “I’m going to support them through comprehending the directions, drafting an outline for a paper, or setting up a PowerPoint. That’s my favorite part, providing the support.”
