Kindergarten teacher marks 25 years at Shades Cahaba Elementary

Terran Greer has taught kindergarten at Shades Cahaba Elementary School for 25 years. In total, she has spent 34 years in the profession. Greer, who was born in Atlanta, moved to Blue Ridge, Georgia, at age 6. She taught for four years in Georgia and five years in South Carolina before arriving in Alabama. She now lives in Homewood with her three daughters and one granddaughter, and she welcomed a son-in-law in May.

Greer decided to pursue education after volunteering in a local kindergarten class during her junior and senior years of high school. She earned an associate degree from Reinhardt University and completed her bachelor’s degree at the University of Athens. She has taught only kindergarten throughout her career.

Her decision to teach in Homewood resulted from a chance phone call. Greer was preparing to fly back to South Carolina after a failed interview schedule when Betty Winches, a former Homewood administrator, asked her to stop by for a quick talk. Winches connected Greer with Sue Grogan, the former principal of Shades Cahaba. Greer walked into the front office wearing jeans and accompanied by her two young children. Grogan introduced herself to the family and discussed the school’s focus on student success and staff support. Greer accepted the position after that single conversation, turning down a job offer from a neighboring school system.

Greer attributes her long tenure at Shades Cahaba to the school community. She says the faculty, staff, children, and parents have made her feel loved and protected since her first day. She notes that the community supports teachers through both good times and difficult periods. Her daughter, Mason Elizabeth, also works in education, performing and teaching musical theater at Homewood Theatre. Greer’s other daughters are involved in education as well; one coaches college cheerleaders and another teaches first grade.

In her classroom, Greer focuses on helping students feel comfortable and excited about learning. She greets anxious students with a warm hug and starts the first day of school with Play-Doh activities. She tells students to do their personal best and to love school. Her goal is for every child to leave her class feeling successful and confident.

Greer advises first-year teachers to be patient with themselves and to try new teaching styles when setbacks occur. She says teachers should keep the main thing, the children, as the main thing. She remains a self-described Disney fan who hopes to see the princess float in a parade. She also has two dachshunds named Gus and Bean.