And So It Began….

When I was in college, I need to decide on a degree and what I wanted to do after college. This decision needed to be made quickly because I was at the end of my sophomore year in college and needed to declare a major before I became a junior. Additionally, I wanted my major to be related to what I wanted to do at the end of my four years.

I decided to split my student teaching, half as an elementary teacher and half as a reading specialist, and I loved both! While I don’t remember why I actually chose teaching, I know I became connected with great professors during that time and still have, to this day, somewhere in a box, my binder from college that became a source of lesson plan ideas as well as cool activities to do.

Fast forward a couple of years. With my K-9 lifetime teaching credential, I applied for and was offered my first teaching job at a private school in the San Fernando Valley part of Southern California, specifically the Los Angeles area. I was now the proud teacher of a third grade class. There were no teaching assistants, no instructional aides, and no parent helpers, and I LOVED it!

I remember one student in particular, a red-headed boy with lots of freckles (and considering I was a redhead with many freckles, I was and still am partial to red-headed students). This young boy, I’ll call him Brian, had been adopted by people who possibly were too old to adopt such a young boy who had challenging issues. You see, Brian was deserted by his parents at an age where he could remember them. I was told that he was hard to wrangle in. He talked a lot and he had a lot to say. Most adults would let Brian ramble and not really pay attention to what he was saying. One of his most talked about topics was about the men who picked up the trash cans once a week at his home (You can see why some people might not think this was important.)

I chose a different path, perhaps because of the redhead thing. Right from the first day of school, I gave this little third grader my full attention when he spoke about the ‘trashmen’ and how he wanted to show them how to pick up the trash and put the empty cans away without damaging them. Brian was very clear on why this was such an important job and how he could come up with good solutions to do this job better, because after all, people’s property, the trash cans, shouldn't be damaged. I learned from Brian’s story that any job has value and no matter what job it may be, you should always do it well. Thanks to Brian, I have always looked at those who do the jobs I don’t want to do with respect and appreciation.

Since that time I have taught 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th grade and have subbed in grades ranging from kindergarten through 8th grade. I currently tutor students from elementary grades through high school, and I have mentored and continue to mentor students who experience challenging times while on their life’s journey. I currently love what I do (office manager of Bullis Charter School’s South campus) because I get to be around wonderful students including some who may be challenging and I get to ‘listen’ well.

The last thing on my educational ‘bucket list’ is to guide students through transitional times such as 8th to 9th grade as well as high school juniors and seniors as they do their college exploration. Having guided my own two boys, as well as other students through this process successfully, it’s now become a passion of mine to fit students with schools where they will thrive. How do I do this? By listening to them, of course.

Thanks Brian!