I’ve always wanted to be an educator. One could say that education flows through my family. My grandparents were teachers, and they both had college degrees. In addition, my sister is an educator, and my granddaughter is now an educator in Orange County School in North Carolina. In addition to my family, I think one of my greatest inspirations was this idea that you shouldn’t be in a classroom and have someone make you cry or feel bad. Every child should feel loved, valued and wanted. Helping people is at the heart of what I do.
I have had many roles in the sphere of education. Most of my time has been spent in the Elementary classroom. I have taught Pre-K-6th grade. However, the longest grade taught has definitely been kindergarten. For as long as I can remember, early childhood has remained my greatest passion. Every child deserves an inspirational beginning. Each child needs to realize that they have potential. When you build a strong foundation, it is just amazing how much students can accomplish.
It is hard to believe, but I have been in the field of education for about fifty years. I have remained in education all of these years because I am still working to make happy people. Every child has talent and skill, and you just have to have them leave as problem solvers. I work to encourage happy problem solvers and students who leave with a positive self-image. Even more, cross-curricular education is so important in fostering creativity and critical thinking skills.
People need to realize that through play and interactions with our peers, there is education. Especially for the little ones, the value of play is so incredibly important. I hope one day we get back to what is developmentally appropriate for each child. Education has changed constantly over the years, but the way people develop and grow has not changed. This is important to remember. Over time, I have seen that motivation is seen through play and excitement. Conversation is so important, and this is fostered when play is encouraged. I hope people one day realize that interaction with students is so important. “Teaching isn’t rocket science. In fact, it is harder” - Ryan Fuller. There are days sometimes when we feel like we have failed. You just have to keep going with a positive spirit and look for the sunshine.
One of my favorite messages for the future is the following:
“I have come to a frightening conclusion. I am the decisive element in my classroom. It is my personal approach that creates the climate. It is my daily mood that makes the weather. As a teacher, I possess tremendous power to make a child’s life miserable or joyous. I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration. I can humiliate or humor, hurt or heal. In all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis will be escalated or de-escalated and a child humanized or dehumanized.”
— Haim Ginott, Teacher and Child