Six teachers were nominated to become next year’s Teacher of the Year, including social studies teachers Vicky Faircloth and Randy Homesly, counselor Dr. Susan Sigler, and English teachers Jenny Nardelli and Erin Tonelson. Also nominated was Queen of the Coffee Shop, Mrs. Bailee Meekings. In the end, it was Meekings who won the coveted award.
Meekings, then Bailee Adams, is a CHS alumnus who graduated in 2015 and went on to college at Old Dominion University (ODU). Meekings then returned to the school and, over the past seven years, has made a name for herself and her students, as well as through her work with the cheer squad.
Q: What do you teach, and how long have you been teaching?
A: “I am a Special Education teacher who focuses on Life Skills, Work Skills, and Transitional Skills. This is my seventh year teaching.”
Q: Tell me about the beginning of your teaching career; how you knew teaching was what you wanted to do, and what led you back to the school you graduated from?
A: “At the beginning of my teaching career, I was fresh out of college. Excited, eager, and also nervous about what was to come. I knew I had a passion for special education students when I joined the Beach Buddies Club at Cox HS. What propelled me even further in my passion was beginning my college courses at ODU. I learned that this is a profession that leads with your whole heart. I wanted to come teach at Cox High School to get back to a place that gave me so much.”
Q: How do you engage and inspire your students in the classroom?
A: “I engage and inspire my students through hands-on learning. Helping them to know they are valuable and that anyone can learn and thrive. I do this by being loving, nurturing, and inspiring all learners.”
Q: What challenges have you faced in your teaching career, and how have you overcome them?
A: “I have faced many challenges in my teaching career. I believe the most difficult part of this job is caring so much and so deeply. I try my best to not bring work home with me, but I often do. When a student struggles, I feel it; I struggle too. When a student overcomes a challenge and feels joy, I feel joy too.”
Q: What is one of your fondest memories so far from your teaching career?
A: “Out of my seven years teaching, one of my most fond memories is the Spring Fling dance. This is an event I created for high school special education programs city-wide. It was the most joyous day that still makes my heart smile. We are hosting the 2nd Annual Spring Fling Dance on Friday, May 5, the end of the school year, and planning is already underway.”
Q: What does winning the Teacher of the Year award mean to you personally and professionally?
A: “Winning Teacher of the Year at Cox High School is a true honor. To be able to work at the place that shaped me and work alongside the teachers that taught me is an incredible feeling. I’m so grateful to have been nominated for this award. Professionally, it keeps me motivated and propels me to do even better. Personally, it reminds me that I make a difference in my students’ lives and that others recognize the work and heart I put into my job. That means so very much.”
Q: Can you share a specific moment or experience in your teaching career that you believe contributed to this recognition?
A: “I believe that revitalizing the Cox High School Coffee Shop Program is what contributed greatly to this recognition. When I first inherited the program, Students primarily sold pre-packaged snacks and bottled drinks. Under my leadership, it evolved into a thriving, student-run enterprise offering freshly made items like quesadillas, breakfast wraps, seasonal iced coffees, and more. The transformation turned the shop into a fast-paced, hands-on environment that builds vocational and social skills while instilling pride and purpose.”
Q: What advice would you give to teachers who aspire to make a significant impact in their classrooms?
A: “Focus first on building strong, trusting relationships with your students. Listen, care, and show them you believe in their potential. Be clear about what you expect and consistent in how you teach and manage the classroom. Keep learning; reflect on your practice, try new strategies, and stay open to feedback. Impact comes gradually, build one connection, one lesson, one improvement at a time.”
