Hello Visitors of the Greatest Teacher site ever!

My name is Shakira Bates and I hail from the big city of Chicago, IL. I began my undergraduate career at Virginia State University, transferred to Northern Illinois University, and earned a BA in Communications – Media Studies with a minor in Fashion Merchandising. I also have earned a MA in Communications, Media, and Theatre from Northeastern Illinois University, all to find out my heart was elsewhere. After teaching, assisting, and coaching throughout the Chicago Public School system for 3 years, I realized education was home. I applied to multiple career-changing programs to graciously be accepted into Georgia State University under the CREST-Ed Teacher Residency Program.

I am currently completing the last elements of my M.A.T. in English Speakers of Other Language program with the hopes of becoming a highly qualified educator, who displays her enjoyment of constant learning and education to the children within the school and the  surrounding community.

Please explore this website to get to know me as a person, student, and educator.