Civics teacher Tia Hawkins, isn’t just teaching Civics. She says her goal is to encourage a sense of belonging. Her journey from Virginia State University, where she majored in political science, to become a Civics teacher at FCHS was driven by a desire to see greater representation in education.

For Hawkins, teaching is not just a career choice, but also a way to create change within the school community. “I wanted to become a teacher because I wanted to see more African-American representation in teaching,” said Hawkins. “Representation in school is so important. It allows the student to see diversity in both their student population and the teacher staff,” she said.

A typical day for Hawkins involves diving into the Constitution and exploring its history, covering subjects like Civics and Economics, citizenship, and what she says is her favorite thing to teach: the branches of government. She said she hopes her impact extends beyond the curriculum as she tries to create an environment where students feel comfortable sharing their opinions and perspectives on various topics. Hawkins also tries to make her students feel like they belong by always inviting them to share their opinions or perspectives on different topics than they discuss in the classroom.

Many students state that Hawkins’ classroom offers a peaceful atmosphere. ” It is very quiet and calming,” said eighth grader Kaleena Washington.

Hawkins also strives for representation in her classroom. “Most importantly, representation provides students with a sense of belonging in a classroom. That is something that I hope all students feel in my class: that they belong and are supported here,” she said.

Outside of the classroom, Hawkins enjoys cooking and baking, with a particular fondness for chicken and pound cake.