Sidney Mayberry

Newton Elementary School has welcomed a fresh wave of energy with Sidney Mayberry, a newly-minted second-grade teacher. This is Sidney’s first year in the classroom as a teacher, and she’s as excited as she is dedicated to making an impact on the young lives she will be guiding. Though new to the district and the profession, her journey to becoming a teacher is filled with unique experiences and an infectious enthusiasm that promises to leave a lasting impression.

While some teachers discover their passion in more traditional ways, Sidney’s story is a little different. Before she ever set foot in a classroom, she was on ice. A competitive figure skater in her youth, Sidney taught younger kids how to glide across the rink. “Teaching skating was where I first got the bug for teaching,” she shares with a smile. “There’s something special about helping a child understand something difficult, like skating, and watching them get up after falling, and trying again.”

Her background as a skating instructor provided her with an early sense of how fulfilling it is to work with children and watch them grow. It was during this time that she realized that teaching, in any capacity, could be her life’s work.

Originally from Pekin, Illinois, Sidney didn’t expect to find herself in the tight-knit community of Newton, but love brought her here. Her fiancé, a Jasper County native, introduced her to the area and, like many before her, Sidney fell in love with both the people and the community.

Now that she’s officially part of the Jasper County family, she’s found a strong support system among her colleagues at Newton Elementary. “The team has been wonderful,” Sidney says. “We’ve got veteran teachers like Rebecca Kennedy and Stacey Pickens who’ve been amazing mentors. And then there’s Chelsea, who’s also new to the district this year, so we’re kind of learning together.”

Sidney’s transition into her role was made smoother by her practicum experience in the district, where she spent time in a third-grade classroom last year. “That really helped me get familiar with the school, the curriculum, and some of the staff,” she adds. “By the time I started this year, I already felt like I was part of the team.”

Sidney is clearly in her element as a second-grade teacher, a role that she feels fits her perfectly. “Second grade is such a pivotal year for kids,” she explains. “They’re still young enough to be eager learners, but they’re starting to gain more independence. It’s a big year for social-emotional growth and for building important skills, like reading.”

She’s particularly passionate about fostering a love of reading in her students. Rather than restricting her students to specific reading levels, Sidney encourages them to choose books that excite them, no matter the challenge. “If they’re up for the challenge of reading a book they find interesting, I let them go for it,” she says. “I want them to associate reading with enjoyment, not just with meeting certain requirements.”

Sidney’s integration into the community was helped along by her fiancé, whose family has deep roots in Jasper County. “His grandpa is a farmer here, so I’ve been getting to know the community through his family for a while now,” she says. “It’s been a gradual transition, but I already feel at home.”

As she looks ahead to the school year, Sidney is excited to see how her students grow. Her classroom, with its nature-themed décor of greens and blues, is designed to be a calming, welcoming space where students feel comfortable and eager to learn.

“I’m really excited for this year,” she says. “Second grade is such a transformative time, and I can’t wait to see how much they grow, both academically and personally.”

It’s clear that Sidney Mayberry is more than ready to take on the challenges and joys of teaching. With her unique background, passion for education, and the legacy of helping others instilled in her from her skating days, she’s poised to make a lasting impact on the students of Newton Elementary.