From Student to Successor: A Full-Circle Moment for Mattie Claire Jones ’20

Sometimes, a teacher plants a seed that grows for years …quietly and steadily until it blooms in the most beautiful and unexpected way.

Ms. Jones and Mrs. Sherman with the book, *A Letter to My Teacher* .

When Mattie Claire Jones walked into Mrs. Ann Sherman’s second grade classroom as a curious 8-year-old, she had no idea she’d one day step into the very same room years later as its teacher. This fall, after earning her degree from Troy University and completing her education training, Mattie Claire is doing just that - returning to STJ not just as an alumna, but as the newest second grade teacher, taking Mrs. Sherman’s place after her well-earned retirement.

While studying elementary education at Troy University, Mattie Claire felt what many students feel during the stress of finals and term papers… a bit of doubt. She loved her program, but the exhaustion of studying clouded her senses, and she wondered if she had chosen the right field. Then, she read the children’s book

A Letter to My Teacher as part of a college assignment. The story renewed her passion for education and inspired her to write her own heartfelt letter to Mrs. Sherman, the teacher who first showed her the joy and magic of learning. Writing the letter as a college sophomore set to motion a quiet, but powerful pull that would lead her back to Saint James.

To watch a former student grow into a colleague is a rare and beautiful thing. And for Mattie Claire, it’s not just a job- it’s a calling, inspired by one unforgettable teacher.

“I believe that teaching is not a job, it is a calling. There is no greater gift than to see a student thrive. It has been such a blessing and pleasure to be able to watch Mattie Claire go from student to teacher. I could not be more proud. I love her with all my heart!”

— Mrs. Ann Sherman

Ms. Jones awarded Mrs. Sherman the 2025 G. Stanley Frazer Faculty Award.

That wasn’t the last time Mattie Claire would honor her mentor. At Saint James Commencement this past May, she had the joy of awarding Mrs. Sherman the 2025 G. Stanley Frazer Faculty Award, a recognition that felt as personal as it was meaningful. And now, with the same warm spirit and love for learning that Mrs. Sherman once showed her, Mattie Claire is ready to welcome a new generation of students into the classroom.

Welcome home, Ms. Jones! Your second grade students are lucky already!

#wearesaintjamesschool