Terri Armstrong

I graduated from the University of South Carolina with a bachelor’s degree, but I often say that my real education began when I became a mother.

Watching my own children learn, grow, struggle, discover, and become themselves changed the direction of my life. It helped me realize that I was meant to be an educator—and especially to help children whose path to learning may look a little different.

My grandparents instilled in me a love of books and learning from a very young age, along with the belief that education should never really end. I have carried that philosophy throughout my life. Learning makes me a better mother, wife, teacher, friend, and advocate. That passion eventually led me to earn my Master’s degree in Early Childhood Special Education from the University of Colorado Denver.

Teaching is more than my profession. It is part of who I am. There are few things that bring me greater joy than watching a child understand something for the first time, accomplish something independently, or discover that they are capable of more than they realized.

I also believe learning should be joyful, creative, and deeply connected to the individual child. Education should never simply be about getting through school. My hope is that children carry their curiosity, confidence, creativity, and love of learning with them long after their formal education ends.

Becoming a mother taught me why education matters. Becoming a special educator taught me how profoundly the right knowledge, support, and people can change a child's path.

That belief is at the heart of everything I do.

Life is education, and education is life.