In Ms. Knowles own words...

The first year that I was a teacher, my principal at the time said the following statement at each faculty meeting: “Students don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care.” That was ten years ago, but the statement has remained in my mind ever since. You cannot be a great teacher unless you care about the students. I have two children of my own. Everyday I try to be the type of teacher that I would like for my own children to have.

I greet each of my students everyday at my door with a smile. During class I try to constantly feed my students with positive words to encourage them to work to their potential. I have internalized the belief that every student can learn, and I try to encourage each student to believe this about him or herself.

An outstanding teacher requires each student to be the best that he or she can be each and every day. That means, that the teacher is monitoring and correcting students to be sure that they are on task at all times. An outstanding teacher also remains excited about learning and is always well prepared with the materials for each lesson.In addition, an outstanding teacher does not remain stagnate in his or her teaching methods, but is always open-minded to new ways to improve his or her teaching style.

When students have the opportunity to use their own creativity in the learning process, learning becomes more meaningful to them. One of the greatest awards that I receive from teaching is seeing the students excited about achieving present and future success academically, and success in life in general. Another great reward is the love that my present and former students show back to me daily, because I showed that I cared about them. I keep in touch with many of my former students, and my heart is so warmed when I seeing them doing well.

10 years teaching experience
Taught 1995 - 2000 at Lee High School, HISD
Taught 2000 - present at Eisenhower High School
Currently teaching 10th grade Geometry
Bachelor of Business from University of Texas at Austin
Masters of Education in C&I in Math at University of Houston