Miranda Blair, Johnson County Library Media Specialist, Inspired to Teach by her Family

Miranda Blair is from a family of teachers. Her grandmother, Lola Ferguson, taught Head Start  at Flat Gap Elementary in Johnson County during the day and worked in a retail store in the evenings. She was taking classes when she was in her sixties to earn her interdisciplinary childhood education degree. She was awarded a national Teacher of the Year award in 1997 and traveled to Arkansas to accept her award.

Gaye Harmon, Blair’s aunt, was a first-grade teacher in Bath County Public Schools. “I spent a lot of time with her. She took me to school and I was inspired to be a teacher,” said Blair.  "I have loved school all my life and still do to this day!”

Blair’s main inspiration to teach others was her father and his love of learning. “My dad, Gary Ferguson, was a successful mechanic but returned to college when I was in grade school so he could complete his degree,” said Blair. He earned a history teaching degree and began teaching at the Carl D. Perkins Vocational Training Center in Johnson County. He recently retired as the small engine repair teacher.

Blair is currently the library media specialist for all of the five elementary schools in the Johnson County School District. She will earn her Rank I / Master of Arts in Education and Rank I this summer from EKU's School Media Librarian program. This is her third degree! She previously earned a bachelor's degree in elementary education (grades P-5) with an emphasis in math and a Master of Arts in Education in special education with a teacher leader endorsement.  Blair has taught kindergarten, 2nd and 3rd grades,  and special education. She has also coached the elementary dance team, the Community Problem Solving team, and is currently the president of the Booster Club at Flat Gap Elementary.

Share your educator story here https://coe.eku.edu/insidelook/why-are-you-educator

Published on April 29, 2021