Our Career Talk Series invites faculty, former Cengage student ambassadors and Cengage employees to share their unique journeys into their current roles, highlighting the motivations that guided them.
Each talk delves into the unexpected twists and turns that shaped their paths, offering valuable insights and lessons for students as they think about their own future careers.
This time around, we gathered several experiences from our faculty partners. They share, in their own words, how and why they decided to teach. Whether or not students are considering a career in teaching, these personal stories are heartfelt, powerful and inspiring.
For Essie Childers, teaching is a calling
I have known since the sixth grade that I wanted to be an instructor. My mom was a maid and my dad was a truck driver. I was always proud of their work ethic. However, they wanted more for their children. They said education would be my ticket out of poverty. I helped my parents organize their bills and helped with all the household chores. Outside of home, I found myself surrounded with great mentors beginning in the sixth grade. They could tell that I would make a great teacher because of the pride I took in my work.
Beginning in high school, I started teaching Sunday school and read the Sunday school minutes. In college, students asked me to proofread their essays, and I shared successful tips on how to study and organize their time. I developed a heart of serving others and wanted to continue by pursuing a degree in teaching. Lacking financial means, I became a work-study student and received scholarships and loans to pay my tuition. It was not easy, but I was determined to get my degree. I have taught for over 30 years and have not regretted my chosen profession of teaching.
Essie Childers is currently an Adjunct Professor of Learning Frameworks at Cisco College in Abilene, Texas. She was selected as a distinguished alumni of Abilene Christian University in 2021 and of Longview High School in 2018. In 2017, Essie was elected as President of the Texas Community College Teachers Association and received the Carol Dochen Developmental Educator of the Year Award. She also was the 2014 recipient of CRLA’s Distinguished Teaching Award and the 2013 On Course Ambassador of the Year award.
For Ann Snell, teaching is her true passion
Going to college was not always on my bucket list. Thank goodness I grew up to be 6 feet tall and could play basketball. I went to the University of Rio Grande (a very small school in Ohio) on an academic and basketball scholarship.
To be honest, I was not a great student up until that point. I switched majors about four times (back then, you could do that) and finally landed in marketing with a minor in management. I finally understood how easy it was to learn something you found interesting. Shortly after graduation, I headed to Marshall University to become a Graduate Assistant Women’s Basketball Coach and earn my MBA. I started the program thinking I would work on Wall Street. Halfway through, I was asked to teach a marketing class as a favor for one of my undergrad professors, and I was hooked! I have been teaching at the college level since that time (I just hit 31 years!).
Ann Snell is Lead Instructor, Business Administration & Early College Advisor at Alamance Community College. Throughout her career, she has designed hundreds of courses, each crafted to engage and inspire students. She also actively participates in Quality Matters reviews as a Higher Education Peer Reviewer.
For Britton Leggett, a love of teaching runs in the family
I call it the family business. My mom was a career elementary school teacher and principal. She actually encouraged me not to pursue a career in education because of the generally low pay it commands.
After a couple of sales positions, I realized I had some unfinished business from my athletic days to which needed tending. When I knew my career trajectory was going to earn me a coaching position on a state championship caliber program, I began my MBA as a prerequisite for doctoral programs. Upon nabbing a couple of titles, I began actively pursuing doctoral program options. I was able to find an accredited program and still teach high school throughout. I stopped coaching and picked up a couple of adjunct positions for “experience.”
Two years ago, I accepted an Assistant Professorship of Marketing and walked into my first collegiate classroom. I knew that was where I belonged. Thinking back to the professors and instructors I had in undergrad, I wanted to be like the great ones that inspired me to think creatively and problem solve.
The past couple of years have been full of fantastic students from various backgrounds. With a couple of decades of mathematics teaching under my belt, I get great, intrinsic value from being the person who puts all their years of mathematics requirements into application in my consumer behavior and marketing research courses. To see that glimmer in a few of their eyes when they finally realize mathematics is useful, not just a torture technique, really puts a pep in my step.
Britton Leggett, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of Marketing at University of Arkansas at Monticello. Professor Leggett’s research interests include marketing analytics, social media influencers and AI.
Teaching matters
Our faculty partners remind us that choosing to teach makes a significant difference. Their stories speak to the heart of why teaching matters, and through their words, they highlight the dedication that fuels their (and your) work — to empower students.
Are your students considering a career in teaching? Are they looking for different career options? Check out our Career Talk Series. Here, Caleb Jud shares his journey to becoming Cengage Senior Operations Specialist. Explore Caleb’s story and share it with your students.
