Born in the 1960s in Memphis, Jeanette Turner Walton has taught young children for more than 24 years. She discovered at a young age that she wanted to teach. Influenced by her aunt and cousin, her first experience in teaching was at her high school. Melrose High School had a day care program in the school, where she worked as a helper. Her next experience was in the day care program at Shelby State Community College, where she studied early childhood. After graduating from Shelby State with an Associate of Science degree in Early Childhood, she began working in the after-school program at Grace St. Luke’s. After one year she became an assistant pre-kindergarten teacher. Influenced again by a mentor at GSL, she went back to school at the University of Memphis, where she received her B.S. degree in Early Childhood Education through Third Grade. Jeanette enjoys attending education conferences.