A teacher is someone I aspired to be for a long time. I first started thinking about it after working a few summers in an afterschool daycare in 1993. Helping children with their homework and participating in fun field trips helped me see how much I enjoyed being around kids.
After a couple of years attending a community college close to home and two years at Western Carolina University, I obtained a B.S. degree in Elementary Education K-6. I was fortunate to be offered a job at the elementary school I attended when I was young, Valdese Elementary School. I took over the retirement of my former first grade teacher and taught on the same team with my former fourth grade teacher. Although we had a close working relationship, I never could call her by her first name—just didn’t seem right!
During my first few years of teaching, Appalachian State offered courses towards an M.S. Degree in Reading Certification in a local school where I lived at the time. Initially I thought it would be a nice bump-up to my monthly income, but as I got into the program I learned much more than that—it was the opportunity to help me become a better educator. I also got to attend classes with my mom who is an eighth grade English teacher. It was a pretty surreal experience walking across the stage with her to get our diplomas.
After teaching a year in fourth grade, I moved down to kindergarten where I lived comfortably for ten years—never thought I wanted to teach anything or anywhere else—until I moved to Willow Springs. My husband and I both grew up in the same county—we went to rival high schools if that tells you anything about the size of our county. Needless to say we were both very comfortable in the life we had in Burke County. The day that he got the job promotion was a bitter-sweet day. It had been a dream of his to get this promotion and now that it had finally happened, he was sad to leave home. It was tough knowing we would have to sell the home our son was born in and leave the area we knew as home. But we also knew that this was an opportunity that our family could not pass up—we had to go for it!
I may be silly, but I believe in fate—I believe that fate brought my family to Willow Springs because it is the closest picture to what I know as “home” that I could ask for so close to the big city of Raleigh. I remember spending weeks looking for a job. I sent several principals resumes and emails regarding my qualifications, but got nothing. I couldn’t understand how a teacher with ten years of experience plus a Masters degree, wasn’t getting even an email reply. I called several schools and the secretary always replied with, “Send us an email with your qualifications—“click.” As you can probably tell, I was getting a little frustrated. Although my husband was getting a pay raise, my two year old son was going to have to go to daycare—bye-bye grandma—hello $800 a month—I needed a job!! I finally got through to Willow Springs—I remember talking with Tricia Allen—she must have heard the frustration in my voice because she took down my information and assured me she would give it to Mr. Langley-principal of the school. I was shocked the next morning when he called my cell phone as kindergarten students were filing into my classroom. After an hour of small talk, he offered me a job on the spot—he hadn’t even met me or looked at my paperwork—just said do you want it or not. It was one of the best decisions I had ever made.
I accepted the Title I Reading position and taught a year and a half with some of the best K,1,2 kids I know. It wasn’t long after I took the job that we bought a house in Willow Springs. After losing our Title I funding, I was nervous about reentering the classroom—especially a grade level I’d never taught before. I thought I always wanted to teach kindergarten—until I moved to second grade. Again, I feel fate has dealt me a pretty good hand. I work with a phenomenal group of teachers and have an awesome class. The curriculum has been fun to learn and the kids seem to really enjoy the skills taught in class. I know that anything could happen in the years to come—student numbers may change and I may be asked to move to another grade level, but I know I won’t leave this school. The staff and administration here have made me feel this is where I need to be—no matter what grade or subject I teach—it’s home.
After a couple of years attending a community college close to home and two years at Western Carolina University, I obtained a B.S. degree in Elementary Education K-6. I was fortunate to be offered a job at the elementary school I attended when I was young, Valdese Elementary School. I took over the retirement of my former first grade teacher and taught on the same team with my former fourth grade teacher. Although we had a close working relationship, I never could call her by her first name—just didn’t seem right!
During my first few years of teaching, Appalachian State offered courses towards an M.S. Degree in Reading Certification in a local school where I lived at the time. Initially I thought it would be a nice bump-up to my monthly income, but as I got into the program I learned much more than that—it was the opportunity to help me become a better educator. I also got to attend classes with my mom who is an eighth grade English teacher. It was a pretty surreal experience walking across the stage with her to get our diplomas.
After teaching a year in fourth grade, I moved down to kindergarten where I lived comfortably for ten years—never thought I wanted to teach anything or anywhere else—until I moved to Willow Springs. My husband and I both grew up in the same county—we went to rival high schools if that tells you anything about the size of our county. Needless to say we were both very comfortable in the life we had in Burke County. The day that he got the job promotion was a bitter-sweet day. It had been a dream of his to get this promotion and now that it had finally happened, he was sad to leave home. It was tough knowing we would have to sell the home our son was born in and leave the area we knew as home. But we also knew that this was an opportunity that our family could not pass up—we had to go for it!
I may be silly, but I believe in fate—I believe that fate brought my family to Willow Springs because it is the closest picture to what I know as “home” that I could ask for so close to the big city of Raleigh. I remember spending weeks looking for a job. I sent several principals resumes and emails regarding my qualifications, but got nothing. I couldn’t understand how a teacher with ten years of experience plus a Masters degree, wasn’t getting even an email reply. I called several schools and the secretary always replied with, “Send us an email with your qualifications—“click.” As you can probably tell, I was getting a little frustrated. Although my husband was getting a pay raise, my two year old son was going to have to go to daycare—bye-bye grandma—hello $800 a month—I needed a job!! I finally got through to Willow Springs—I remember talking with Tricia Allen—she must have heard the frustration in my voice because she took down my information and assured me she would give it to Mr. Langley-principal of the school. I was shocked the next morning when he called my cell phone as kindergarten students were filing into my classroom. After an hour of small talk, he offered me a job on the spot—he hadn’t even met me or looked at my paperwork—just said do you want it or not. It was one of the best decisions I had ever made.
I accepted the Title I Reading position and taught a year and a half with some of the best K,1,2 kids I know. It wasn’t long after I took the job that we bought a house in Willow Springs. After losing our Title I funding, I was nervous about reentering the classroom—especially a grade level I’d never taught before. I thought I always wanted to teach kindergarten—until I moved to second grade. Again, I feel fate has dealt me a pretty good hand. I work with a phenomenal group of teachers and have an awesome class. The curriculum has been fun to learn and the kids seem to really enjoy the skills taught in class. I know that anything could happen in the years to come—student numbers may change and I may be asked to move to another grade level, but I know I won’t leave this school. The staff and administration here have made me feel this is where I need to be—no matter what grade or subject I teach—it’s home.