Purpose, Perseverance & Passion: A Conversation with Global Teacher Award Winner Jazz Hemingway

In this deeply inspiring interview, I sit down with Jazz Hemingway — an extraordinary special education teacher, fierce advocate, single mother of two, and the recent recipient of the Global Teacher Award, which comes with a life-changing opportunity to explore the Netherlands’ education system. Jazz opens up about her journey, motherhood, advocacy, and the moments that continue to shape her into the educator and woman she is today.

📚 About Her Journey as a Teacher

Tonya L. White: What inspired you to become a special education teacher?

Jazz Hemingway: I was drawn to special education because I’ve always had a heart for those who are often overlooked or underestimated. I saw a need, and I wanted to be part of the solution! I wanted to be someone who stood in the gap for students with exceptional needs. God planted this purpose in me, and even when the path wasn’t easy, I knew this was my calling.

Tonya: Can you share a defining moment in your teaching career that still motivates you today?

Jazz: There was a student in my second year who came in with a history of behavioral challenges and very little academic confidence. I remember watching him finally complete an assignment he had been struggling with for weeks, and he looked up and said, “I didn’t think I could do it.” (I knew he could.) That moment reminded me why I do what I do — those small, life-changing breakthroughs.

Tonya: How do you balance the roles of educator and advocate for students with exceptional needs?

Jazz: You can’t separate the two — being a special education teacher is being an advocate. I fight for my students to be seen, heard, and supported every single day. It’s exhausting sometimes, especially being a single mom, but I know if I don’t speak up for them, who will?

👩‍👧‍👦 Balancing Motherhood and Teaching

Tonya: As a mom of two, how has parenthood influenced your teaching style or philosophy?

Jazz: Being a mom has made me more patient, more empathetic, and more intentional. I teach the way I hope someone would teach my children — with grace, understanding, and high expectations. I also see my students not just as learners but as someone’s baby — and that changes everything.

Tonya: What lessons have your children taught you that you now bring into the classroom?

Jazz: They’ve taught me resilience, laughter in chaos, and the beauty of small victories. My kids remind me that every child is different, and all need love and support in unique ways. That same grace I give them, I try to extend to every student.

Tonya: How do you create boundaries or find time for yourself amidst the demands of teaching and motherhood?

Jazz: Honestly, I’m still working on this. I’ve learned to celebrate little moments — like having my favorite cereal before the kids wake up or a quiet car ride home. I’ve also learned that saying “no” doesn’t make me less committed; it protects my peace. Trusting the process and giving myself the same compassion I give others has helped.

🏆 Winning the Global Teacher Award

Tonya: What does winning the Global Teacher Award mean to you personally and professionally?

Jazz: It means everything. As a single mom who’s faced so many obstacles, this win is not just mine — it’s for every woman out there who’s ever felt unseen or stuck at the back of the room. It’s proof that with faith and perseverance, God will move you front and center.

Tonya: How did you find out you were selected — and what was your immediate reaction?

Jazz: I received the news in an email, and I honestly had to read it three times to believe it. I cried. I immediately thought about how far I’ve come. I knew then this moment was divinely timed.

Tonya: What message do you hope this award sends to other educators, especially those in special education?

Jazz: That your work matters. Even when it feels like no one notices, even when resources are scarce or the challenges seem too great... keep going. You are changing lives. And your passion will open doors you never imagined.

✈️ Looking Ahead: The Netherlands Education Trip

Tonya: What are you most excited to learn or observe in the Dutch education system?

Jazz: I’m excited to see how inclusion is practiced internationally and how students with diverse learning needs are supported in their classrooms. I want to explore how they structure their supports and how they incorporate equity in daily instruction.

Tonya: How do you plan to bring what you learn back to your own students and school community?

Jazz: I plan to share best practices, new strategies, and insights with my colleagues and students. Whether through professional development or everyday lesson planning, I want what I learn to benefit not just my classroom but my entire school community.

Tonya: Are there specific schools, practices, or programs you’re hoping to visit or explore while in the Netherlands?

Jazz: I’m especially interested in visiting the secondary schools and exploring how they engage families and communities in special education. I also hope to observe student-led learning models and vocational support programs.

🌍 Broader Impact and Reflection

Tonya: What advice would you give to young teachers just starting out, especially in special education?

Jazz: Be patient with yourself. Trust the process. You won’t know everything on day one, and that’s okay. Love what you do and let your heart lead — even when the paperwork gets overwhelming. And never forget that your presence in a child’s life can be the turning point.

Tonya: What’s one thing you wish more people understood about teaching children with special needs?

Jazz: That our students are not broken or less than — they are brilliant, capable, and full of potential. They just need the right support, the right approach, and someone who truly believes in them. And when they win, it’s not just their victory... it’s all of ours.

💎 Gems of Motivation from Jazz

• Lead with authenticity. You don’t have to become someone else to be seen. Your boldness, your natural hair, your accent, your skin... they are not barriers — they are badges.

• It’s okay not to have it all figured out. What you don’t know today, you’ll learn tomorrow.

• Protect your peace. Not everyone deserves access to your energy. Every “no” to them is a “yes” to you.

• Your struggle doesn’t disqualify you — it refines you. Every challenge is shaping your story. Keep pushing. When you win, we all win.

💖 Final Word from Jazz

“You are allowed to be both soft and strong, exhausted and excellent, healing and still climbing. Your journey — with all its highs and heartbreaks — is sacred. Keep going. Keep shining.”