Princess Gwature, third grade teacher at NTCA, found her calling at a young age. Starting in middle and high school, she gravitated toward teaching positions in church and vacation Bible school. At that time, she discovered she had a gift for teaching others and decided to pursue a career in education. She recently graduated from Southwestern Adventist University with a degree in Elementary Education. This August, she’ll celebrate her first full year as a teacher.
Gwature grew up in Rowlett, Texas, and before discovering her love of teaching, she considered one day becoming a fashion designer. During her time away from the classroom, Gwature enjoys shopping, exploring new places and foods, and spending time with her terrier/lab Cash. Of the places she’s explored, London is one of her favorites; the Maldives is on her list of places she’d love to one day visit.
Even though she has only been teaching for a year, Gwature has learned valuable lessons in the classroom. One of those lessons is that she has a great deal of grace to give her students, and she hopes they know that even on the difficult days, she’s there for them. At NTCA, she feels like she has plenty of support from other teachers when she needs help getting through to her students.
“I love how the campus is a loving community of aid and reassurance from fellow teachers,” Gwature said.
To engage students in the classroom, Gwature finds ways to relate every topic to students’ lives. She applies the subjects to music, shows and other references that make the content more relatable and easier to understand. The most rewarding part of teaching for Gwature has been seeing students’ faces when they finally understand the lesson they’ve just learned.
As a student, Gwature often hid in the background, and she realizes now that it created learning gaps for her. Now, she makes an effort to check in on every student to ensure that they are seen, noticed and understand what she’s teaching them. This is one way she tries to make her classroom a great place for her students.
“I hope they are able to take away that school is a place you learn, but your classroom family is how you create memories,” Gwature said. “I want to help them forever relive my grade as the best grade.”
Get to Know Princess Gwature
What’s your favorite book? Esperanza Rising
What's your favorite movie? One Day
What is your favorite Bible verse or passage? Romans 8:18, “For the pain you are going through will not compare to the joy that is coming.”
If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be? I can eat Pho for the rest of my life!
Students at North Tampa Christian Academy, a Tampa private school, thrive creatively, academically and spiritually in a project-based learning environment. Faculty and families work together to inspire leadership through Christian innovation. Contact us today to learn more.