About McKenzie Wayman

 Dr. McKenzie Britnell Wayman grew up in Columbiana, Alabama, a small city equidistant from Montgomery and Birmingham. She graduated from Shelby County High School and attended the University of North Alabama on a majorette/band scholarship where she received a bachelor’s degree in Spanish and Secondary Education with an emphasis in English as a Second Language. Early in her adolescence, Wayman was an assistant dance teacher, which is where her passion for teaching began. 

In Spring 2019, she graduated once again from the University of North Alabama with a master’s degree in Family Studies. She immediately began work on her final degree, Doctorate of Education in Curriculum and Teaching from Northcentral University. Wayman defended her dissertation, “Educator Perceptions of Relationship Building with Their Students and Classroom Implications: A Phenomenological Study,” and completed her doctoral program in October 2021.

Dr. Wayman has taught for over a decade. She prides herself on her ability to do the "heart work" while also holding students to high standards in the classroom. She began her career at Montevallo High School where she advocated for Non-English Proficient students in lower socioeconomic communities. She maintains that the foundation of her pedagogy is due to the influence of Montevallo's students, faculty, and city. 

She currently teaches at Thompson High School in the Alabaster City Schools' district. Here she focuses on building positive culture within her classroom and campus while teaching varying levels of the Spanish language.