Daily Inspiration: Meet Courtnee Roberson

Today we’d like to introduce you to Courtnee Roberson.

Hi Courtnee, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My journey began in the arts and education world. I started my career as a Teaching Artist with the Alliance Theatre and Fulton County Arts & Culture, where I discovered how powerful creative expression could be in helping students build confidence and communication skills. That experience led me to pursue more formal classroom roles, first as a Special Education Paraprofessional in Douglas County Schools, and later as an ELA Teacher and Reading Interventionist with KIPP Atlanta Schools. I currently serve as a Literacy Specialist at Cobb County Schools, where I teach students who are performing below grade level in reading.

Along the way, I also worked as an Outreach Educator at the Children’s Museum of Atlanta, which deepened my passion for connecting learning with real-world experiences. Across all these roles, a common thread has been my commitment to making learning engaging, inclusive, and meaningful for every child.

Today, I bring together my background in arts, education, and community engagement to help create programs that inspire curiosity, build literacy, and empower young learners.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely hasn’t been a completely smooth road. The Covid-19 pandemic was one of the most challenging times in my career. Overnight, everything about teaching changed and it exposed just how wide the learning gaps were for so many students. There were times when I couldn’t teach reading because my elementary students were hungry, so I ended up teaching life skills, such as how to make sandwiches or pour a bowl of cereal. Also, some of my students didn’t even have reliable internet access, which made it incredibly difficult to keep them engaged and connected. It was heartbreaking knowing how hard they were trying while facing barriers completely out of their control.

Now that I’m a mother myself, I see that period through an even deeper lens. It truly opened my eyes to how much children need structure, consistency, and emotional support. They need things beyond academics. They need love. Even today, we {as educators} are still feeling the ripple effects of those years, especially with things like attendance and social-emotional growth. It’s a constant reminder of why this work matters and how much care and creativity it takes to help students recover and thrive.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m currently a Reading Interventionist, and my work centers on helping students build the foundational literacy skills they need to succeed (and to actually enjoy) reading. I specialize in identifying where students are struggling, whether it’s phonics, fluency, or comprehension, and creating targeted, engaging lessons to meet them right where they are. I also screen students for learning disabilities such as Dyslexia, and lead Response to Intervention meetings with the school team and families as an effort to find the best course of action for student success.

What I’m most proud of is seeing the transformation that happens when a child who once avoided reading begins to see themselves as a reader. Those small victories, like a student finishing their first chapter book, or proudly sharing that they read at home, are what keep me motivated. One of my most memorable moments in when one of my students shared with me that he read from a menu at a restaurant and ordered his favorite meal—chicken nuggets.

What really sets me apart is my creative approach and background in the arts. Because I started my career as a teaching artist, I naturally bring movement, storytelling, and hands-on learning into my lessons. I believe learning should be active and joyful, and I’ve found that blending creativity with literacy instruction not only helps students make progress, but also builds their confidence in and out of the classroom.

Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
The most important lesson I’ve learned along my journey is to do everything in love. One of my favorite scriptures, 1 Corinthians 16:14, says, “Let all that you do be done in love.” That has truly become my life’s motto. It reminds me that no matter what I’m doing, whether teaching, parenting, or leading, love should always be at the center.

Motherhood has deepened that lesson for me in ways I never expected. It’s taught me that love is more than a feeling. It’s a daily act of patience, sacrifice, and grace. Watching my husband, Ray, who’s an actor, use his creativity to inspire our children has been such a blessing. He’s donated comic books for my students to spark their imagination and help them fall in love with reading. It’s those small, intentional acts of love that leave the biggest impact.

At the heart of it all, my work, my faith, and my family, is the desire to do everything in love. It’s what gives my purpose meaning and keeps me grounded in God’s plan for my life.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teacher.court/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/courtnee-miles-roberson-a1423845

Image Credits
Kwame Tutuh