“I have had the opportunity to learn from some of the best administrators and educators in the business here at Redwater, and I’m so proud to be a part of this school.”

As a young person, Phyllis Boyce-Cummings loved stories. “I loved reading and writing and sharing with others what I had read,” she said. “I focused on literature in college and discovered that I could share my love of books and words with young people—and hopefully instill in them the same passion for a good story.”

For 14 years, Phyllis taught English, first at Liberty Eylau Middle School and then at De Kalb Middle School. “It was fulfilling and rewarding,” she said. “I never envisioned that I would do anything other than teach.”

However, as she grew as an educator, Phyllis’ passion for her students’ holistic welfare eclipsed her love of language arts.

“Anyone in education will tell you that it’s not really about the content you are teaching; it is about the relationships you build with your students,” she said. “I saw firsthand how students will perform for you only if you show that you care. Because of the relationships I developed with my students, many of them would confide in me some of their most difficult and personal struggles, as well as their deepest fears. It was during one of these moments that I realized that I needed to be more equipped to help them cope with some of the profound issues they were sharing with me. I guess one could say that I had an epiphany.

“For the first time since the moment I stepped into the classroom, I began to imagine how I could continue to impact students outside of the classroom,” she continued. “I decided, after 14 years as a classroom teacher, that I wanted to go to graduate school to become a school counselor.”

After graduate school, Phyllis served as a school counselor at Cheatham Middle School (now Clarksville Middle School) for four years, before returning to the Texarkana area to accept a position at Redwater Junior High School, where she is still currently employed.

“I have had the opportunity to learn from some of the best administrators and educators in the business here at Redwater, and I’m so proud to be a part of this school,” she said.

Phyllis said that she derives immense satisfaction from seeing her students thrive long-term. “Being in the classroom, counseling, and watching students learn is always rewarding,” she said. “However, it is even more satisfying when those young children become happy and successful adults who reach out to me to say that they have never forgotten how I cared, and that something I said or did helped them become the person they are today. It’s these moments that help me keep going and encourage me to continue to try to be a positive influence for students.”

Crediting Mrs. Jenna Benton, Mr. James L. Germany, and Mrs. Mitzi Barrett, Phylis said that she herself was positively influenced by her teachers.

Phyllis and Joe are the proud grandparents of three grandchildren, Treston, Omarion, and Alayla (pictured). submitted photo.

“[Mrs. Mitzi Barrett] is the most influential teacher I had, who fostered my love of literature and writing with her glowing comment on a term paper I wrote for her class,” Phyllis shared. “I don’t recall what her exact words were, but I will never forget the pride and confidence I experienced from her positive review. Because of her, I was always careful with my written and verbal corrections of student work. The power of an educator’s words to students can never be underestimated or taken lightly.”

Phyllis and her husband, Joe, relocated from her hometown of De Kalb to Texarkana in 2020. “In the time we’ve been here in Texarkana, we have come to love our community and our neighbors,” she said. “Texarkana is large enough to offer a myriad of activities, yet it’s still small enough to have a close-knit feel.” Phyllis maintains connections to her birthplace, however; she serves as the secretary of the De Kalb Concerned Citizens, an organization established to help citizens who may need legal aid or any public assistance. She is also the secretary for the De Kalb Chapter of the NAACP.

FSLM ASKED PHYLLIS:

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? My oldest sister broke her arm when I was about 7 or 8 years old. I remember looking at her X-rays and thinking how cool that was. After conversing with my dad, I learned the job of taking pictures of the bones was called an X-ray technician, so I decided I wanted to do that.

Name a woman you admire. Tonya Nelson, a retired educator who is not only my cousin but also my professional mentor. She encouraged me and taught me so much about the educational world. Watching her interact with both students and adults was a learning opportunity that I will never forget and always appreciate.

If you could speak one sentence of wisdom to your past self, what would it be? I have always had a passive personality and do my best work out of the spotlight, so I would tell my past self to step forward with confidence—don’t hold back, embrace risks, and trust myself.

HOW RHONDA ROBERTS SEES PHYLLIS:

“I first met Phyllis Cummings 11 years ago when I interviewed her for a counselor position with Redwater ISD. Needless to say, it was one of the best investments ever. Phyllis has spent 31 years in public education. When I informed her I had nominated her for the Four States Living Magazine Tribute to Women, she thanked me and said there are many women with more accomplishments. Thinking about this, I asked myself, ‘What is an accomplishment?’ An accomplishment is something someone does well. For Phyllis, it is more than her day-to-day tasks of scheduling, testing, and writing reports. It is the lifelong relationships built with the community, parents, coworkers, and especially students. For all students (and those of us blessed to be her coworkers), Phyllis provides a steady stream of patient listening, counseling, and encouragement daily. Greeting everyone with a smile, she is the calm during the storm and a confidant who empowers others to see their full potential. She provides constant guidance for students (and their parents) as they navigate the journey through junior high school and young adulthood. I appreciate her love and passion for all who cross her path. Maybe she doesn’t see the impact she has on those around her, but I certainly have. Not to be dismissed, these are her accomplishments. So, I am proud to nominate Phyllis, my dear friend who is also a wife, mother, and doting grandmother, for this honor.”

Feature Stories

Tribute to Women: Phyllis Boyce-Cummings