College of Education (COE)
OTECP Announces March 2026 Residency Winners
Friday, 27 March 2026
The College of Education celebrates March 2026 Student Teacher, Mentor Teacher and Supervisor of the Month for outstanding clinical practice and partnership.
The College of Education Office of Teacher Education and Clinical Practice (OTECP) is proud to announce the recipients of Student Teacher, Mentor Teacher and Supervisor of the Month for March 2026: JaBria McCraney, Jennifer Maley and Dr. Valerie Loggins.
McCraney, from Olive Branch, Miss., is a Teaching All Learners (TALN) major completing her residency at Belle Forest Community School in Memphis-Shelby County Schools, where she works in a Functional Skills third-fifth grade classroom. Known by her students as “Ms. Mac,” she focuses on making learning accessible, joyful and meaningful for every learner in her care.
“This recognition means so much to me, as it affirms my passion and purpose in education and motivates me to continue showing up with dedication, compassion and a commitment to making a meaningful impact on my students’ lives,” McCraney said.
Maley, a first-grade teacher at Altruria Elementary School in the Bartlett City Schools district, has been teaching for 19 years and is in her third year serving as a mentor teacher. She said the recognition reflects the importance of building strong relationships and walking alongside future educators as they grow into the profession.
“Being recognized as Mentor Teacher of the Month is both an honor and a meaningful reminder of why I choose to invest in others,” Maley said. “It represents the impact of building strong relationships, offering guidance and supporting growth, not just in teaching skills, but in confidence and passion for teaching.”
She added that one of the most rewarding parts of working with residency candidates is watching their confidence develop over time.
“Seeing them take what they’ve learned, trying new strategies and building meaningful connections with students is incredibly rewarding,” she said. “It’s a privilege to support their journey and be a small part of shaping the teacher they are becoming.”
For Loggins, a residency supervisor with OTECP since 2021, the recognition reflects her deep commitment to supporting future educators through mentorship and experience. Prior to joining the University of Memphis, she spent 42 years with Memphis-Shelby County Schools as an elementary teacher and instructional facilitator.
“It is refreshing to know that I have made an impact in the profession I love,” Loggins said. “It is good to be recognized.”
She said her work is rooted in a long-standing commitment to preparing the next generation of educators.
“It is my commitment to the field of education by passing on the knowledge I have to facilitate students’ learning,” she said. “I want to pass on the torch to the next generation of educators by preparing them for the world not for today, but for the future.”
