For a long as she can remember, Mrs. Cates wanted to be a teacher. She was able to work in a daycare for many years which amplified her desire to be a teacher. Her biggest inspiration was her grandmother who went back to school and graduated with a nursing degree when Mrs. Cates was a toddler. Even though her grandmother went to college before getting married, she was brave enough to follow her dream even after her own children were grown and she was much older. She showed that a person should never stop learning and always continue on to accomplish their goals. Mrs. Cates learned from her grandmother how important education could be in a person’s life no matter the age. 

Mrs. Cates graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi with a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and a Master’s in Elementary Education from William Carey University.  She began working as a 1st grade teacher at Woolmarket Elementary School in 2007, taught 2nd and 3rd grade ELA at D’Iberville Elementary School, and received her National Board Certification in 2014.  Mrs. Cates came to the Career Tech Center in 2018 to open the Teacher Academy program.

For anyone interested in Educator Prep, Mrs. Cates says, "Educator Prep is more than a class for students wanting to be teachers. The students are involved in the learning process throughout the year and participate in engaging, hands-on lessons and activities. During the course of the two years, the students apply the knowledge gained during classroom lessons to their field experiences at local schools. The students will also explore the many career opportunities as well as the different pathways teachers can take in education."