Serving Barnwell County and it's neighbors since 1852
Willie G. Fields is now in her 51st year as a teacher.
Mrs. Willie G. Fields has impacted many young lives throughout the past 50 years as an educator. Now in her 51st year, she has no plans to slow down.
Since beginning her career in August 1973 as a certified teacher, Fields has taught at each grade level. Twenty-nine of those 50 years were spent educating youth in Barnwell District 45, though she currently is chair of the social studies department and teaches United States History and Constitution and other social studies in the Bamberg County School District. She also spent 12 years as an adjunct college professor at two local colleges, all while serving full time as a high school teacher.
“I have been blessed to complete 50 years of doing what I love. I have never seen it as a job because I feel like I am living my purpose, fulfilling a critical need, and enjoying every moment,” said Fields, who has concentrated her area of study and delivery in social studies.
She was drawn to the field of education because she’s always had a passion for learning and for sharing that knowledge with others. “What better way to share than to become a teacher and touch as many lives as I could,” she said.
Over the past five decades, Fields has touched many lives through her role as a teacher. Many of these former students have gone on to be world changers who live all over the world. This includes teachers, doctors, lawyers, politicians, entrepreneurs, professional athletes, farmers, artists, architects, professional chefs, investment bankers, industry workers, counselors, school bus drivers, and “others who are now working to make America the great nation we love,” said Fields, who has a master’s degree and degree as a Global Career Development Facilitator.
Her greatest joy is learning of the success of former students.
“It is a good feeling to know that I had the honor of playing a small role in helping to lead them to that success,” said Fields.
Though she hopes her students will be successful in whatever career they choose, one of her main goals is encouraging others to become teachers, which is critical to growing future generations of America’s youth.
Many things have changed in the world since 1973. The world of education is no different.
“I have seen many changes in education over the years, but the one which has had the greatest impact on me has been the introduction of technology in the classroom. This presented somewhat of a challenge to me early on, but this is the way the world has gone and I had no choice but to learn to use it. My students have no problems with technology as they were born with a technical device in their hands and I can call on any of them for assistance if I should run into a technical problem,” she said.
In addition to being a teacher, Fields is a professional floral designer. She is owner and operator of The Flower Shoppe online. Samples of her designs can be viewed at www.floraldesignsbywgcreations.weebly.com.
The Barnwell resident is the wife of Mr. Preston Fields, owner and operator of Stay Focused Driving Academy. They are the proud parents of two sons, Joseph N. Geter, Esq., and Marcus Fields, EdD, and one daughter, Dr. Kelley R. Fields, PhD. They are the proud grandparents of two grandsons, Joseph Jr. and Myles Jacob.
“Education is the life I have chosen and I have never regretted that choice. At the moment I have no plans to retire for I am doing what I enjoy,” she said.
She looks forward to helping develop more change makers.
