A part of 'The Hive': Teacher of the Year encourages students to BEE amazing

Stephanie Holladay did not choose teaching as her first career choice, but when the youngest of her three children went to kindergarten, she said teaching found her.

“I’ve always had a love of education and of the teachers who taught me all the way from elementary through college. But the teachers at my childrens’ school, they’re just really amazing and I looked up to them even prior to wanting to become a teacher,” Holladay said.

Holladay said she remembers sitting her family down and asking everyone how they felt about her becoming a teacher. Her family fully supported her decision to go back to school and receive her credentials from Point Loma University and become a teacher at Thorner Elementary School where her kids were learning.

In fact, Holladay’s 20-year-old daughter, Elyse, said she was so proud of her mom for going back to school. It was special to see their mom in classrooms with them.

“It’s very meaningful to see my mom teach and to see her find her passion and find the love and the joy she has for teaching,” Elyse Holladay said.

Holladay's career as an educator has spanned 12 years. After working at Thorner for most of her career, Holladay worked for the school district for a year before returning to teaching because she missed the classroom too much. Holladay now teaches transitional kindergarten at Chavez Elementary School.

The Highland High School alum grew up in Bakersfield the oldest of seven children. She and her husband raised their three children —Christian, 24, Elyse, 20, and Grant, 17 — in Bakersfield. Holladay said her family was always very supportive of her teaching career.

Elyse Holladay remembers decorating her mom’s classrooms when she would change rooms. Elyse said she got to meet many of her mom’s students and knows Stephanie’s love for her students extends beyond the year they are in her classroom.

“I think her love and her want for these kids to succeed just lasts for years. She’s always interested in what they’re doing, she wants them to succeed and she wants them to progress and to perform as well as they can,” she said.

Stephanie’s educational career even inspired Elyse to pursue a college degree to become a speech pathologist.

Stephanie Holladay refers to her classroom as “The Hive” where her students are the worker bees and she is the beekeeper. She said once students are a part of “The Hive,” they will always be a part of “The Hive.”

“I really feel like once they step foot into my classroom, we are a family and even after 180 days, they will always be part of my family,” Holladay said.

Lucrecia McGhee said she became friends with Holladay when the two met while studying for their credentials and then taught at Thorner together. McGhee said Hollday’s kindness is unmatched and her heart is what makes Holladay a gem.

“I’ve never met anyone who’s shown me as much kindness as Stephanie,” McGhee said. “When Stephanie cares about you, she really cares about you.”

McGhee said Holladay made McGhee’s transition from a private school to a public school smoother because Holladay was very willing to share her resources and her knowledge. McGhee said Holladay wants the best not only for her students, but for her community.

Although she sets very high standards for herself and holds her students to a high standard, Holladay said what keeps her motivated to continue teaching is learning from her students about human kindness and the world around her.

“I truly feel that I am learning and growing alongside each of my students every day,” Holladay said.

She said she is truly inspired by students and their families so she puts forth a lot of effort into helping students find their “lightbulb moments.”

When she found out she was selected as one of the Kern County Education Champions Teachers of the Year, she said she was humbled and grateful to see the steps that she took with her family’s continuous support paid off.

Not surprised for her friend at all, McGhee said she was excited to find out that Holladay was one of the Teachers of the Year.

“When Stephanie’s on campus, when she’s in your life, when she brings the dazzle, she naturally brings the dazzle,” McGhee said.

Holladay said she encourages parents to get involved with their childrens’ education the same way she encourages her students to follow her classroom motto: Work hard, be kind and always “BEE” amazing!