Water Valley High School is pleased to announce our 2021-2022 Teacher of the Year: Mrs. Elizabeth (Betsy) Corso.
Mrs. Corso is originally from Clarksdale, MS. She and her husband Al have three children and three grandchildren.
Mrs. Corso holds a B.A. in Art Education from the University of Mississippi and an M.A. in Art Education from Delta State University. She also studied Greek and Roman culture in Rome, Italy, through The University of Georgia’s Summer Studies Abroad program. Corso has taught art and art history to all grades of students (from kindergarten through 12th grade) over the course of her career.
Corso’s contributions to the students of Water Valley High School and the greater community of Water Valley are numerous:
Corso says high school students are her favorite because “they can learn to do such amazing work, and I get tremendous joy from seeing a student create something wonderful in art—especially when they had no idea what talent they had. The best part of teaching high school is getting to know my students as people.” She also has high praise for the faculty and staff at WVHS: “I get to do what I enjoy most with dedicated teachers and coaches who work together for the good of all our students. Our faculty is united with that one goal, and we are all friends who support one another (and we have fun, too). I truly appreciate the administration at WVHS. Mr. Pitcock is the perfect combination of stern and compassionate in his approach to discipline, and he always makes sure I have everything I need. I am proud to be a part of a school that values students as individuals and one with such a congenial faculty and administration.”
Students who have had Corso as an art teacher speak highly of her as a teacher and as a person. Jake Crawford states, “She is just a lot of fun, and she pushes me to be a better artist.” Will Sanford says, “Mrs. Corso is so knowledgeable. She helped me learn art history and taught me how to draw. She is very encouraging.”
Principal Drew Pitcock says of Corso, “I don’t think I’ve ever seen her have a bad day. She is always kind, always positive, and always concerned about others. Our students are blessed to have someone with her talent and experience at WVHS.”
For these reasons and many more, Water Valley High School has named Mrs. Betsy Corso as our 2021-2022 Teacher of the Year.