What happens when a teacher doesn’t just deliver knowledge but helps students discover who they are and what they’re capable of? Dr. Heather Wright brings that kind of impact to every classroom she steps into.
In this episode of The Bulldog Mindset, I talk with Dr. Wright, Assistant Professor of English and Coordinator for the English Education Program at Gardner-Webb University. A Boiling Springs native and the 2025 recipient of Gardner-Webb’s Early Career Award, Dr. Wright shares her path from growing up on campus to returning as a faculty member dedicated to mentoring the next generation of educators.
Our conversation explores:
- What it means to be a rural student and how to challenge the false narrative that rural means limited
- Why her approach to teaching is rooted in empathy, intentionality, and honoring student goals—not projecting someone else’s
- The importance of seeing students as whole people and making room for their lived experiences in the classroom
- Her research on TikTok’s role in shaping how teachers share, learn, and build community
- How she helps future educators find their authentic voice and teacher identity—something you can’t teach from a textbook
Dr. Wright also reflects on what it means to be a “fleeting bit of sunshine” in a student’s growth. Whether she’s cheering on a first-gen student finding their path or celebrating a former student’s love of reading, her work reminds us that teaching is an act of both love and belief.