Words by Jenny Lynn Davis | Images by Ryan McGill
Auna Bailey’s journey as an educator is as inspiring as it is impactful.
A native of Dora, Alabama, Auna graduated from Dora High School in 2011 and continued her education at Bevill State Community College and the University of Montevallo, where she became a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated. Her teaching career began in 2016 with Hoover City Schools, and she later taught at RC3, a career connection academy in Hoover. In 2022, she returned to her roots, joining the Walker County school system, where she now splits her time between Oakman and Cordova High Schools teaching Spanish. Additionally, she contributes to the adult ESL program at Bevill State Community College.
From a young age, Auna knew she wanted to teach. “I was a bossy child,” she says with a laugh, “but I knew early on that I wanted to be in the classroom.” Her passion for teaching found its focus when she started taking Spanish classes in high school. “When I started taking Spanish, I knew that was the subject I wanted to teach. I connected with the Spanish culture and found the language to be beautiful.”
For Auna, the similarities between Spanish and African American cultures deepened her connection. “The Spanish culture reminds me of my own culture. Family is a big deal, and so is music, food, and the concept of tradition – all of which have been instrumental in my own life, and Spanish culture is heavy on all of that.”
Auna’s teaching philosophy is rooted in the belief that every student has potential, and she is committed to helping them realize it. She emphasizes building relationships with her students, understanding their individual situations, and showing them that she truly cares. “I can get more across to them if I show them that I care and they can trust me,” she explains.
Her classroom is a vibrant, interactive space where cultural projects and technology integration play a significant role. Auna says that her classes watch a lot of Spanish films and complete hands-on projects like web quests to integrate that interactive technology into the classroom. “Anything in the context of having the students get a true look into Spanish culture that they wouldn’t otherwise get outside of the classroom.”
Because of the connections she forms with her students, Auna finds the most reward in seeing them succeed well beyond her classroom. “This right here is the biggest reward to me,” she says, pointing to a wall adorned with graduation invitations and photos from former students. “When these kids send me updates on their milestones. One, in particular, sent me a video of himself proposing to his girlfriend in Spanish; the fact that they think of me in these moments and want to share that with me lets me know I’ve done something right. Those photos and invitations will stay up until I retire, and I plan to keep collecting!”
She adds, “When the students finish Spanish 1, which is the only required course, and I see the roster of students who want to return for Spanish 2, that makes me proud and like I’m doing what I’m meant to do.”
Beyond the classroom, Auna is deeply involved in her community. She serves as the youth director at St. Joseph Missionary Baptist Church in Quinton and teaches at Our Village in Jasper. She says that most of what she does is rooted in her native Walker County, and she is glad to be back here making connections.
Auna credits Dr. Sherina Morgan, her high school English teacher, as a significant mentor. “She was one of the teachers who truly saw me beyond the classroom. I had a great influence in my mother, who was a great teacher, but Dr. Morgan was a great influence outside the home. She is still a mentor to me, and I want my classroom to be a safe space for growth like hers was.”
Though some have suggested she move into administration, Auna feels that teaching is her niche. “I don’t see myself ever really leaving a classroom role,” she says. “Folks have tossed around the idea of me pursuing other avenues, but right now, this is my niche. I want to be able to continue giving Spanish the recognition it deserves both in and out of the classroom.” WL
