Growing together

Student spotlight

Knowledge is power

“In this life, knowledge is power, and public education is the earliest way to acquire some of that knowledge.”

Jayden Braxton (B.S.Ed. ’23), who currently serves as president of the College of Education’s Student Ambassadors, is gearing up to teach social studies as a Double Dawg in the Mary Frances Early College of Education.

• Hometown: Douglasville, GA
• Degree objective: B.S.Ed./M.Ed. in social studies education
• Expected graduation: Spring 2023

What made you choose to attend UGA?

This is often one of my favorite questions to answer because I did not want to come to UGA. This was my “safety school” when I got accepted. UGA was the only school in Georgia I applied to because I wanted to go out-of-state, and secondary education programs in Georgia were very limited. After wrestling with this decision for a few months and deciding not to compete in collegiate track and field, I chose UGA because of its Double Dawgs program, and the school is close to my family in Alabama.

What have been some of your favorite classes as a student in the Mary Frances Early College of Education? 

My favorite class that I’ve taken in the College, so far, is ESOC 5020: Teaching History with Jessica Frances Kobe Miller. It was the first teacher preparation class that I was enrolled in, and it enhanced my thinking about what it means to teach history and social studies at-large. I had a family matter happen during this semester and Dr. Jess was so understanding and supportive, two qualities that I hope to model in my own classroom. However, at the end of this semester, I will definitely have more favorite classes to add.

When did you decide you wanted to become a teacher, and why did you choose social studies education? 

I don’t know for certain when I wanted to become a teacher; it was sometime between my freshman and sophomore years of high school. During my senior year, I took AP chemistry and AP microeconomics, and I used those classes as the big decision of what I would decide to teach. It took me only two weeks into AP chemistry to decide that I would teach social studies, specifically economics. 

Growing up, I have always had a kinship with social studies, and it has been my favorite subject for as long as I can remember. For example, I took every social studies class offered at my high school, whether it was a graduation requirement or an academic elective. I find interesting topics in each social studies discipline, and it is something that students should be able to find interesting. 

How has your volunteer experience on campus and in Clarke County School District moved you closer to achieving your professional goals? 

Volunteering on campus and working in Clarke County School District (CCSD) has been one of the most impactful experiences of my life. CCSD—specifically Barrow Elementary School—holds a special place in my heart. Of course, I could garner experience in education and gain references; however, it did much more than that. CCSD allowed me to widen my lens of what I would want from my career as an educator. I grew a passion for underserved students and Title I schools. 

That passion, in addition to my ExperienceUGA volunteer experience, enables students to see someone who may look like them, care for them, and be a perfect representation of authenticity and true support. However, it is easy to say and believe that in theory, it is even more provoking and heartwarming when you can put those beliefs into practice.

Why are you passionate about public education? 

I am a product of public education, like many students at this University. There is a myriad of different students, perspectives, and experiences that are housed in the public education system. So many of those students do not picture coming to a state university or following their dreams that seem out of touch due to a possible lack of resources, support, etc. 

In this life, knowledge is power, and public education is the earliest way to acquire some of that knowledge. I learned two years ago in a human development elective course that school is the second largest influence on a child after family. For that reason alone, we need more people who believe their purpose is in education and/or with children.

What are your plans following graduation? 

After I graduate in May, I plan to complete the master’s portion of the Double Dawgs program and graduate the next school year if possible. While completing my graduate degree, I plan to teach in the Metro Atlanta area and coach track and field. 

Alumni spotlight

A dance of passion

• Degree program: Health and physical education
• Current position: Regional tour director and director of event operations, Fusion National Dance Competition; Southeast representative for consulting and coaching, Eskew Consulting; choreographer and dance instructor
• Lives in: Jacksonville, North Carolina

Alyssa Beasley Creekmore (B.S.Ed. ’22) lives and breathes dance.

She started performing at just 2 years old and continues to pursue her passion through various channels: as a choreographer, an instructor, a coach, a dance competition tour director, and more.

“Who knows where my professional life will take me between now and even a year from now,” said Creekmore, who graduated from the College of Education last spring. “I've always been a planner, and my end goal is to start my own dance and fitness studio. I'm just being super patient with it.”

A self-proclaimed Type A personality, Creekmore thrives when she’s working on several projects at once—something she did often during her time as an undergraduate student at UGA.  

In 2019 and 2020, while pursuing her studies in the Department of Kinesiology, Creekmore was named Miss Georgia USA 2020—becoming one of only two women in history to hold both the Miss Georgia title which she won in 2017, and the Miss Georgia USA title.

“I was very shy in high school, and I didn't even know what I was doing in my first pageant. I was almost traumatized by the stress that I felt beforehand,” said Creekmore. “I also just didn't know how to communicate my thoughts and beliefs, and I definitely didn't know how to advocate for myself at all. This experience taught me how to communicate with others and advocate for what I believe in.”

During this time, she also danced as a UGA Georgette before serving as team captain from 2019-20, an experience that—along with her coursework in health and physical education—helped inform the way she teaches children how to dance.

While Creekmore initially planned on pursuing a career in physical therapy, she discovered her passion for teaching through the College of Education and decided to fuse her love of both dance and teaching together.

“I really found my passion for teaching—I love kids, and I love teaching,” she said. “I love sharing what I know and giving back to my community. It was tough deciding not to pursue PT because I feel like society puts a lot of pressure on us, especially women, to break those glass ceilings and go further. And for me to think about what I wanted to do, and what I'm passionate about was more important than breaking a glass ceiling for someone else.”

In 2016, Creekmore created the #RiseUp: Impact Through the Arts Initiative and Scholarship Program to increase awareness about the impact of the arts on individuals and communities, particularly low-income and students with disabilities who may not otherwise have the opportunity to experience the arts. She continues with this effort to date.

Through the program, Creekmore learned the importance of building trust with her young dance students, especially those with a range of disabilities.

“Everyone builds trust differently,” she said. “I had a few students who were nonverbal, so it made it even more challenging to actually be able to learn their communication style. So, I need to be a little more invested in learning about the student and really cater to the group I’m with. I think that knowing your people is really important.”

In addition to her work with #RiseUp, Creekmore manages the day-to-day operations of Fusion National Dance Competition, as well as works with schools and studios as a guest instructor specializing in jazz, lyrical, contemporary, tap, and more.

Currently, Creekmore and her husband live in North Carolina where he is beginning his military commitment as a naval dentist. Once the pair are settled, she plans to open her dance and fitness studio where she’ll incorporate dance, strength, and conditioning into her lessons.

“A lot of the stuff I noticed growing up, especially in dance, was a lack of accountability for the strength and conditioning components of dance and dance injuries,” she said. “I was always one of those girls who got injured a lot, so I think having a specialty in health and physical education and focusing on the fitness and rehabilitation side was a perfect fit for what I want to do.”

Creekmore—who was named a top 12 finalist at Miss America and a top 15 finalist at the Miss USA competition—is still involved in the world of pageantry as a coach with Eskew Consulting, which is based in Nashville, Tennessee. She works with clients across the country who want to enhance their skills in a variety of areas, including walking, talent, interviews, and confidence building.

“I've been coaching clients from across this country for the last couple of years, which is really remarkable just to stay in touch with people from all different walks of life,” she said. “And this past summer was busy, which is great. I can't complain—I stay busy the way that I like to stay busy, which is teaching and coaching.”

—Kathryn Kao