HILARY STATUM was working in her first career, co-hosting a live morning show in McMinnville, after working at News Channel 5 in Nashville with no plans to become a teacher.
But everything changed on a mission trip to Guatemala.
“It was 126 degrees and I remember thinking I had never been happier,” she said. “I didn’t speak Spanish or have a defined role, but kids were just hanging all over me. That was the moment I knew I wanted to work with children for the rest of my life.”
Today, Statum is a nationally recognized educator, speaker, literacy coach, preschool teacher, published author, and creator of the popular blog, Pencils to Pigtails.
“It’s an honor to present all over the country. Last summer, I was able to speak in Hawaii alongside two of my best friends,” she said.
But the road to becoming a national education presenter started with a bit of cleverness.
“I wanted to attend a professional development conference but couldn’t afford it,” Statum said. “I saw that if you submitted a session to present, you could attend for free. That was almost 10 years ago. I submitted a session, they asked me to come back as a paid presenter, and it just took off from there.”
Her sessions typically focus on making education engaging and hands-on, often centered around the science of reading.
“I really emphasize play-based learning,” she said. “Instead of sitting at desks and using flashcards, my students might search for letters around the room or role-play in a dramatic center to extend their understanding. I want my students to know I love being their teacher. Learning should be meaningful and joyful.”
Statum is particularly passionate about her work with multilingual families. For more than 15 years, she’s led a free adult English class in the evenings for Manchester City Schools.
“It’s my passion project,” she said. “Some of our students are illiterate in their native language, and now they’re learning to read in English. We practice real-world situations. I’ll come in dressed as a waitress and take their order like they’re at Cracker Barrel. I’ve even taken them to Chick-fil-A so they can practice ordering.”
She was originally drawn into that work by her sister, who helped coordinate the class.
“The goal is to empower these families so they can better support their kids. It’s the highlight of my workweek,” she said.
Currently, Statum teaches preschool part time at a hybrid school on Tues- days and Thursdays. She also works as a literacy coach at a local middle school one day a week.
“I coach the eighth grade English Language Arts teams at Greenbriar Middle School,” she said. “It’s funny. I’ll be working on bathroom skills and phonics with preschoolers one day and teaching the prologue of ‘Romeo and Juliet’ the next. I love the variety.”
Statum has eight years of experience in education, teaching in various grade levels and as a multilingual teacher.
Through her blog and Instagram page, Pencils to Pigtails, Statum creates and shares classroom resources, inspiration, and real-life stories with a broad community of educators. She stays current by consuming the latest research and distilling it into actionable tips.
“I’m kind of nerdy,” she laughed. “I’m always reading or listening to podcasts about the science of reading, ordering new books, and incorporating the latest research into my presentations.”
She recently collaborated with the BBC on activity guides for “Bluey,” the beloved children’s television show.
“My kids will walk in and see me watching ‘Bluey,’ but it’s work!” she said, laughing. “I watch the episode, then design classroom activities that teachers can download from the BBC’s website.”
Through her work with the “We Are Teachers” channel, she’s even interviewed celebrities, including DMC from Run-D.M.C.
“They were filming from Scholastic’s office in New York. I was just in my home office, suddenly talking to a hip-hop legend with a full production team on the other end,” she said.
With all the accolades and travels, Statum stays grounded in her mission to remind teachers of their value and help reignite their passion.
“Teaching is a daunting profession. It’s become harder since the pandemic. Kids struggle to focus and teachers are overwhelmed,” she said. “Everywhere I go, I try to remind them of their ‘why.’ There’s no other job where you can impact this many lives.”
She cautions veteran educators not to discourage the next generation.
“New teachers come in with ideas and excitement. I always say, ‘Don’t talk down the profession, lift them up.’”
As a mom to three kids, she said she’s aware of how much a passionate teacher can shape a child’s life.
“If I could say one thing to a principal, it would be: ‘Please give my child a teacher who loves teaching, not one who just has the best test scores.’”
Motherhood has also shaped her curriculum design.
“I saw what lit my own kids up, like losing a tooth in kindergarten. So I created a whole unit about the tooth fairy that incorporates reading and math. I do the same with teddy bear picnics and sleepovers — whatever sparks curiosity,” she said.
In the future, Statum will launch a podcast aimed at demystifying education research for teachers called “From Research to Recess: The Science Behind Great Teaching” with Deedee Wills.
“We’ll break down research articles into quick 10 to 15 minute episodes and give teachers practical ways to use the findings in their classrooms.”
Her husband, Dustin, and their kids often accompany her to conferences and events.
“My husband was at my last session. I even brought him on stage,” she said. “This career lets me be with my kids more, but it also means travel and long days. I couldn’t do it without their support.”
Her goal is to help teachers continue to love teaching.
“Because when we love what we do, our students feel it and that changes everything.” GN
