MY STOREY

If you would have asked me what I wanted to be when I was four, I’m sure I would have told you that I wanted to be a teacher.  I loved school and my teachers.  I attended a private preschool in Dublin, GA called “The Learning Tree.”  My teachers were loving, creative, and fun!  My positive schooling experience continued as I walked through a door covered from floor to ceiling with an apple tree on the first day of Kindergarten.  I vividly remember searching for my name on those red apples, excited about being in Mrs. McClendon’s class. 

Being born to a Minister of Music/ teacher, and teacher candidate at Tift College, in Forsyth, GA I spent most of my waking hours in church or in a classroom.  I didn’t have much of a chance to escape from the profession when I really think about it.  As a senior in high school I had the opportunity to spend two hours a day in a kindergarten classroom as part of a sociology class.  Although I enjoyed my experience, I entered Mercer University in the fall of 98’ and declared Psychology as my major. At the end of my first semester sophomore year I had begun to think that psychology might not be my best option.  My advisor met with me and suggested that I think about the school of education.  Within days I was enrolled in education courses and on my way to becoming a teacher.  Five semesters later and perfect grade point average in the school of education, I knew I had made the right decision. 

My first year of teaching is somewhat of a blur.  I survived!  As most teachers do, I learned a great deal about what not to do the following year.  After a year in South Carolina, I was craving Georgia soil beneath my feet and I set my sights on Atlanta.  I was hired to teach kindergarten at Riverdale Elementary School in Riverdale, GA.  During my five years at Riverdale Elementary I was mentored by my literacy coaches and counselor. I really began to plant my feet firmly in Best Practices.  As a Reading First Title I school, we lived and breathed reading.  I am thankful for the opportunity this provided me to receive in depth on the job training in Reading instruction. 

At the end of my five years at Riverdale Elementary I married my high school sweetheart and decided to take some time off to travel with him.  It wasn’t long after we moved to Seattle that I realized that I had to find my way back to the classroom.  I spent the next year substituting and looking for a teaching position in Chicago.  Fifteen interviews and two job fairs in Chicago landed me a job in Macon, GA.  How, I’m not quite sure, but life has a way of figuring itself out. 

I spent my first year back in Macon teaching Math to kindergarten through fifth grade students.  I learned one thing during that 180 day school year.  My heart belongs to young children.  I spent the summer as a paraprofessional in a Pre-K Summer school program.  The program targeted pre-K students that needed extra support before entering kindergarten. 

That summer changed my life.  I knew that I enjoyed my profession.  I knew that I loved teaching kindergarten. I knew that I loved a five-year olds’ enthusiasm for learning. What I didn’t know was that I am a Pre-K teacher. One day into the program I was begging the Pre-K director to help me find a job.  Walking into the classroom that summer I felt more alive than I’ve ever felt.  Like the students, my imagination was allowed to run wild with ideas of themes to teach, experiments to try, new things to explore.  The possibilities were endless. 

I was hired at Springdale Elementary school during pre-planning. My classroom would be an addition to the program.  I started the first day of school with twenty chairs, two tables, a carpet, a paraprofessional, and twenty students.  To me it didn’t matter.  These empty walls became the canvas for all types of adventures.

Student-centered learning became a reality.  Ideas for the next theme to teach came from discussions we had as a class.  My training from Riverdale Elementary came in handy as I incorporated differentiated instruction through small groups.  Most of my students were reading before the year ended.  More importantly, I know that what we do in Pre-K is developmentally appropriate for children.  Imaginations soar, ideas flourish, students live daily in community with others t, and they love to learn.  Each day they come to school like fresh sponges ready to soak up any information that you give to them.  Each day is a new adventure with new things to see, and experience.  Some days superheroes walk through the door, other days a rock band with a stage made from hollow wooden blocks appears during work time, no adventure any less enjoyable than the day before. 

See, the thing is I have the best job, in the best school, with the best administrators teachers, and staff, with the best students and parents, but I want more.  I teach everyday like it’s the last time I’ll stand before students and impart knowledge.  I work harder everyday than the day before.  I try to stay one step ahead.  I love what I do, I feel blessed to wake up everyday and do it.