Authentically TCS: Theresa Watkins
As one of seven siblings, Theresa Watkins has always been surrounded by family. She was born in the small town of Cross, SC, but moved to New York City to live with her grandparents, where she went on to study voice in high school. After her high school career, Theresa worked in the retail industry as a successful buyer and manager and later enrolled in Brooklyn College to study Speech Therapy. While interacting with students during the Speech Therapy program, she realized the classroom was her true calling.
Theresa landed in Atlanta in 2002. Not long after her arrival, she heard melodies of laughter and play resonate from a school behind her apartment complex. Those sweet sounds led her to the discovery of The Children’s School, where she accepted a full-time substitute teaching position. Theresa found her home away from home.
Theresa took a brief leave of absence from TCS in 2003 to welcome the newest addition to her family–her daughter Molly! She returned to TCS in 2004 as a full-time 3rd grade teacher, eager to enroll her daughter in the pre-primary program. When Molly was old enough, she finally joined the TCS family where Theresa watched her progress from a pre-primary student all the way to a TCS graduate! In her dual roles as a faculty member and parent, Teresa has watched with pride as Molly matured into the thoughtful, curious, talented young woman she is today.
Taking after her mother, Molly loves to sing and was a part of TCS Players and theatrical productions, displaying some serious pipes as Simba in TCS’s production of The Lion King. Molly was also an accomplished TCS Stepper, confidently stomping her way into 7th grade this year!
Molly is now involved in theatre at Woodward Academy and plays basketball there too. Theresa is confident that TCS provided Molly with the foundation and tools for future success in her middle school years and beyond, and she is forever grateful that Molly was able to experience the TCS way of life. Although Molly is now an alum, TCS will always be a part of her family, and a place to call home for the Watkins family!
