A Southaven native who once doubted she was cut out for kindergarten has been chosen as the first DeSoto County Teacher of the Month. Alexa Clevenger, who teaches kindergarten at DeSoto Central Primary School, was nominated and voted on by readers in a new recognition program launched by the DeSoto Times-Tribune this fall.
The program, presented in partnership with Homer Skelton Ford and Homer Skelton Hyundai/Genesis of Olive Branch, is meant to spotlight teachers in classrooms across DeSoto County. Clevenger’s selection was announced on Saturday, Oct. 17.
Meet the First DeSoto County Teacher of the Month
Clevenger is in her first year at DeSoto Central Primary but her fifth year teaching kindergarten, the only grade she has taught. She earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the University of Mississippi in 2022.
Kindergarten wasn’t her original plan. According to the Times-Tribune profile, she was nervous about working with very young children until a student-teaching placement changed her mind. She credits her student-teaching mentor, Cassie Todd, with showing her the kind of teacher she wanted to be.
Her path to the classroom started much earlier, though. Clevenger has said her own teachers inspired her, especially her second-grade teacher, Mrs. Anglin (now Mrs. Nosef), whom she remembers as kind and fun.
A Classroom Built on How Students Feel
Clevenger’s approach centers on making 5- and 6-year-olds feel safe and valued while they learn.
“In my classroom, I try my best to create a safe, loving, supportive environment,” Clevenger told the Times-Tribune.
She leans on a familiar saying among educators: children may forget what they were taught, but they remember how a teacher made them feel. Above all, she wants her students to leave knowing she believed in them.
Her advice for anyone thinking about the profession is simple. “It is such a rewarding job,” she said. “If you have the passion, go for it!”
A Family of Educators
Teaching runs in the family. Clevenger’s husband, Chance, teaches and coaches at Olive Branch Middle School, and her in-laws, Angelica and David Hoffman, are also educators. Outside school, she enjoys traveling, reading, and time with family, and the couple has two cats.
How the Teacher of the Month Program Works
Who can be honored: Teachers at schools across DeSoto County.
How winners are chosen: Readers nominate teachers and vote on the winner.
Sponsors: Homer Skelton Ford and Homer Skelton Hyundai/Genesis of Olive Branch.
Frequency: A new teacher is recognized each month.
The recognition comes during a strong week for local schools. The DeSoto County School District earned an A from the Mississippi Department of Education in the 2025-26 accountability ratings released Oct. 15.
