When Ra’Kyah Jeter started teaching at Cairo Elementary just a few weeks ago, she knew she had found the right fit. “It’s been fun,” she said with a smile. In her new role as the school’s physical education teacher, Jeter is quickly learning about her students, adjusting her lessons, and enjoying the challenge of helping children discover the joy of movement.

This is Jeter’s first year teaching PE full-time, though she’s hardly new to the classroom. Before coming to Cairo, she spent three years as a permanent substitute at Meridian Elementary, where she rotated between preschool and fifth grade. “Whichever teacher was out, I just filled in for them,” she explained. That included covering PE classes, giving her an early taste of what it would be like to manage a gym full of energetic students.

Her journey to Cairo wasn’t straightforward. After graduating from Meridian High School in 2018, Jeter attended Shawnee Community College on a basketball scholarship. She earned associate’s degrees in arts, science, and general studies before transferring to Lincoln College in Illinois, where another basketball scholarship allowed her to continue playing the sport she loved. At Lincoln, she completed her bachelor’s degree in sports management with a minor in business.

Basketball was always at the center of her life. “I miss playing every day,” she admitted, “but coaching kind of helps me feel like I’m still playing.” Jeter remains deeply involved in sports at Meridian, serving as the head coach of the high school girls volleyball team and middle school girls volleyball team, as well as the assistant coach of the high school girls basketball team. Coaching, she says, keeps her connected to the competitive energy she once felt on the court.

Her background as a student-athlete also makes her a role model for her students. “I tell them anything is possible,” she said. “You’ve got to work hard now so you don’t have to work harder later.” Jeter knows what she’s talking about—she was salutatorian of her high school class, graduated with high honors at Shawnee, and finished at the top of her class at Lincoln. “I don’t like to fail,” she said. “I work hard on just not failing.”

That attitude is something she brings into her PE classes at Cairo. She teaches kindergarten through sixth grade, with each class getting thirty minutes of physical education four days a week. Mondays are planning days, giving her time to search for new games, sort through lesson ideas, and create a variety of activities tailored to different age groups. “The smaller kids can do different things than the bigger kids, so I always have different things planned,” she said. “It’s fun to just see how they react and have fun.”

One of her goals is to get students active in ways that may feel new to them. “A lot of kids aren’t really forced to be active these days,” she explained. “They’re always inside with technology. Some of them didn’t even know how to play kickball.” For Jeter, teaching kids traditional playground games is part of her mission. “I want them to learn the basics—how to move, how to run, how to play with each other. Those are skills just as important as anything else they’re learning.”

Jeter describes Cairo Elementary as a welcoming place. “The coworkers are really nice,” she said. “They were really welcoming. And the kids are different from what I was used to, but I’m adjusting. Cairo and Mounds are kind of similar, though.” She also notices the difference in size. “The class sizes are smaller here,” she said, which allows her to give more attention to individual students.

When asked about her long-term goals, Jeter is clear that she wants to keep working with younger students. “I like elementary better than high school,” she said. Twenty years from now, she sees herself still working in a school setting—or maybe pursuing her other passion: baking. “I like making baked goods and desserts,” she shared. “My dream job would be to have my own little business selling baked goods. But I’m happy being a coach or being a teacher.”

For now, she is focused on making her first year at Cairo a success. “My goal is to have it down pat,” she said. “Lesson plans and everything. I want this to be a successful year.” With her background in athletics, her determination to succeed, and her genuine enjoyment of teaching, it’s clear she is well on her way.