Carie Pickens

For Carie Pickens, the path to excellence in teaching and education is paved with hard work, not excuses.

It’s “Unity Day” in Jasper County, and Carie Pickens stands out in her orange attire, complete with matching earrings. A lifetime resident of Jasper County and a proud alumna from the class of 1995, Carie’s roots run deep here. Her four children are also products of Jasper County’s schools. This place is her home, where she’s determined to make an impact, shape lives, and excel in teaching.

Spending twenty years as a stay-at-home mom, Carie never let go of her ambition to teach. While working as a Paraprofessional, she pursued her education, embodying true determination. This story echoes in the lives of many educators, where juggling a full-time job and academic endeavors is a testament to their commitment. Such dedication—often extending into late nights filled with grit and sacrifice—is worthy of celebration, even if there are no standard earrings or colors to signify this achievement. Through perseverance, Carie earned her special education degree last December from Eastern Illinois University.

Now in her inaugural year of teaching in Jasper County, a position she secured last July, Carie faces the ever-shifting landscape of education head-on. She reflects, “Every day is different. It’s never the same. And in special ed, each group of kids is going to be different. So what I’m doing this year might not be what I’m doing next year.” Indeed, diversity in education emerges naturally—from the variety of student minds to the evolution of roles educators play.

Carie brings her diverse interests into the classroom, teaching language arts, math, and social studies to small groups. Her passion for history, especially the American Civil War, is palpable. “I can tell you a lot about Civil War history,” she shares. “My dad is a history buff, and I have visited the battlefields many times. But it’s the everyday lives of those during that era—how a mother lived and raised her children— that fascinates me.” Her volunteering at the Lincoln Log Cabin, complete with period dress-up, adds a touch of fun to her historical explorations. Currently, she’s guiding her students through the intricacies of the Revolutionary War, ensuring the narrative is broad and inclusive.

As a single mother of four, in recent years, Carie has embodied courage and conviction. These attributes are not only the backbone of her personal life but also enhance her teaching. She holds her students to high standards, with a firm belief in their potential: “There’s no excuse. I’m not asking you to do things you can’t do. And I don’t like excuses for why you can’t do what I’ve asked you to do. Because you can do anything if you put your mind to it.”

In a time when meritocracy is often questioned, educators like Carie Pickens are vital. Her insistence on hard work and accountability among her students breeds success and is truly inspiring. Stories like Carie’s are the ones we need to champion, reminding us of the profound impact a dedicated teacher can have. It’s the potential for success, brought to the forefront by accountability and the refusal to accept excuses, that defines a true success story.