78 Photo Essay: Pollyann Watters

Wife, Mother, Teacher, and Coach 

Words by McKenzie Wade | Image by Blakeney Clouse

Sitting in an empty classroom that would normally be bustling with activity from high school students, Pollyann Watters tells the story of how she got to where she is now—a story that didn’t turn out the way she expected.

Coming from a long line of teachers, the Jasper native always assumed teaching would be the career path she chose as well. After playing volleyball at Walker High, Pollyann went on to play for Mississippi College, where she met her husband, Ross. Though she never planned to marry young, they were wed after her junior year. A year later, she graduated with a Bachelor of Biology in Secondary Education degree. 

Eventually, Pollyann gave up playing volleyball, but she soon realized how deeply she loved and missed the sport. “After I stopped playing, it was like ‘I need sports,’” she says. “That is what I do and I love it.” 

That realization led her to explore the possibility of coaching. Upon returning to her hometown, Pollyann was offered a position at Carbon Hill High School, where she now teaches anatomy and biology. She and her husband also coach the volleyball team together. The environment in which she works is always ripe for growth, something she craves and values. 

“I really enjoy watching students and players make progress,” Pollyann says. “Nothing fires me up like watching a player who’s worked on a skill for months and then finally gets it, or a team that really worked to build chemistry, and then it finally clicks.”

In October 2020, Pollyann took on a new role—mother—when she and Ross became parents of a son, Allen. Balancing motherhood, marriage, teaching, and coaching is no small task, but she welcomes the challenges and embraces each moment, learning day by day. 

Looking forward to the days and the years ahead, Pollyann says, “I hope to continue to provide a learning environment that the kids can feel cared for and receive a good foundation for their studies.”

What has been the key to Pollyann’s success? “Just a growth mindset,” she explains. 

Whether it is in her classroom, on the volleyball court, or at home with her baby son and her husband, Pollyann is always eager to learn, to grow, and to become a better version of herself. 78