From Student to Teacher: Brianna Elder Continues Legacy of Learning in Room 200

When Akin fourth-grade teacher Brianna Elder unlocks the door to room 200 each morning, it’s more than just the start of a school day. It’s a homecoming. The same walls that once displayed her class work now hold her lesson plans.

Sixteen years ago, Elder was the wide-eyed student sitting at a desk in this very room at Akin Elementary. A first-year educator with Wylie ISD, she now teaches fourth grade in room 200—the same classroom where she sat as a fourth-grade student.

“The best way to explain it is a total 360,” Elder said. “I have dreamed about being in the position I am in now, and I achieved that dream. I hope that I can have the same impact all of my teachers have had on me now in this room.”

The full-circle moments don’t stop at room 200. Elder finds herself working alongside some of the very educators who helped shape her.

“My kindergarten teacher, Kerri Paredes, is now our Reading Interventionist at Akin,” Elder said, “and some of my students had her as their kindergarten teacher!”

Elder says her teachers left a lasting impact on her life, something she’ll always carry with gratitude.

“Growing up, school was not the easiest for me,” Elder said, noting, however, that she strived in math. “I remember getting to be a leader in the school and wanting to do my best, such as opening car doors and greeting students as they arrived.”

In 2009, Elder’s fourth-grade teacher was Dani Womack, who still serves in the district today. In a meaningful twist, it was Womack’s first year of teaching when she had Elder as a student.

“She was such a caring teacher,” Elder said. “I always felt the love from her in and out of the classroom. She did everything to make school fun and enjoyable for us.”

One of their most unforgettable memories from that year was a visit from an NFL star. Thanks to a classmate winning the NFL Play 60 contest, Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten came to Akin Elementary, and Womack’s class had the once-in-a-lifetime chance to run drills with him right on campus.

“Brianna was petite, but she didn’t let her size or the fact that she was a girl keep her from going full force as she went through the football drills,” Womack said. “She was so fast! What I remember most about Brianna is her smile; it lit up the room. She worked hard and tackled challenges head-on with a can-do attitude.”

For Womack, seeing her former student lead her own class of fourth graders is more than just a moment of pride; it’s a powerful reminder of the lasting impact teachers can have.

“I love the fact that Brianna is teaching in the very same classroom that she was once my student in,” Womack said. “I hope that it brings back fond memories of her time in fourth grade and inspires her to provide amazing experiences for her own students.”