When Lisa Ables was a child, she had three ideas of what she wanted to be when she grew up. She wanted to either be a nurse, a teacher or an airplane stewardess. She admits it was a wide range of possibilities. But approaching four decades in the teaching profession, she knows she made the right choice.
“I have enjoyed and still enjoy it,” Ables said. “Teaching the students in the lower elementary grades is what is really rewarding to me because you can see how far they have come at the end of the year. That is what makes teaching so exciting.”
Ables currently teaches first grade at Benton Academy, where she has taught for the past five years. But before joining the local academy, she spent 31 years teaching in both the city and county public schools.
A Benton native and Benton Academy graduate, Ables received her associate degree from Holmes Junior College and later her Bachelor of Science in elementary education from Mississippi State University.
Ables’ teaching career within the public-school districts included Webster Elementary, Woolfolk and Bentonia Gibbs Elementary School ranging from third grade to kindergarten. While pregnant with her twins, she even joined Manchester Academy to teach second grade.
“When I retired from public schools after 31 years, I knew I didn’t want to retire from life,” Ables said. “I called Mr. Steve Flemming, who was the head of school at Benton Academy at the time, and he offered me a third-grade position. However, I ended up accepting the first-grade position.”
Teaching the lower elementary level is what makes it exciting for Ables. It can be challenging with younger students. But finding success within those challenges is the biggest reward.
“When they first come to you, they don’t know their numbers or words,” she said. “Some have trouble even writing their names. But I push them. I really do. And when they walk out of this first grade, they are not the same students. They are reading, writing and spelling.”
“As parents, you can’t whisper ‘I am going to get him a b-i-k-e for Christmas’ anymore,” she added, with a laugh. “They are going to know what you are spelling. I bust all my parents’ bubbles.”
Ables admits there were challenges in transitioning from public to private schools.
“I spent so much of my time doing paperwork and lesson plans that had to be so detailed,” she said. “Here, if I need more time in a math skill, I am allowed it. If a student needs more help with reading comprehension, that’s fine. I think that is better for the kids. Public schools spend a lot of time on testing. And here, at a private school, we are allowed to talk about the Bible, pledge to the American flag and the Christian flag. Those are some big differences.”
Ables said she also appreciates the tight-knit atmosphere at Benton Academy. She said connections with the students and parents are built early on with each school year.
“When you ask for something, you are going to get it,” she said. “The parents are so helpful and accommodating. But it all comes down to teaching the kids. They are really are our future, and that’s important.”
Ables has four children who live all over the state and country. Her daughter Kathy lives in Chattanooga; daughter Kimberly lives in Kosciusko; and twins Jason can be found in Texas while Jennifer is at home in Yazoo County. And when she is not traveling to visit her children, she can be found in her yard.
“I love to mow my yard and do outside work,” she said. “And I have four lovable dogs that I just adore.”
Ables is also a member of Black Jack Baptist Church.
