Why I decided to become a Teacher....

It has been I dream of mine for quite some time to return to college, as my two children were finishing high school I was able to do just this. In 2007 I started with Clark County School District as an Instructional Assistant for AM/PM Kindergarten classes. My idea was to test the waters before becoming a teacher. But, then sadly after a year at Ruthe Deskin Elementary School my job was eliminated due to budget cuts.

Quickly I received a new opportunity this time in a Full day Kindergarten program at Lomie Heard Elementary School. I loved my “job,” though it did not feel like a job to me, as I enjoyed listening and learning from the children each day.  I enjoyed it so much I thought, well here I will stay, helping Kindergartners discover reading and so much more, what could be better? The budget again having different plans for me discontinued the full day Kindergarten program and with it went my job once more.

A friend was leaving her assistant position to move and the PE assistant was available at Lomie Heard. It was not my intention to stay very long, but again I was having fun and let’s face it the only down side was the pay, the benefits were still great and I needed them.

Then after two years and much hemming and hawing about losing medical benefits I took a leap of faith and gave my resignation, start school full-time and applied for my substitute teaching license. The day I received my license two friends contacted me both going on maternity leave, sadly only able to accept one, I started the week after school began the fall of 2013 as long term guest teacher for 4^th grade again back at my old friend Lomie Heard Elementary school. Then the Art Teacher had surgery after that and again I was a long term, very fortunately at the same school. Loving it!

Then that November the school district decided to reduce kindergarten class sizes, so I was fortunate to pickup my very own kindergartener class in January 2014. This was a truly amazing opportunity to learn and teach. I met the most amazing students who taught me so much that I could have never learned on my own.

I think all students crave to learn. It is their questions and discovery that motivate me in my job. I believe it is our job as teachers to motivate students with learning, exploring, examining, discovering and inquiring. As children are natural and curious explorers.

It is my hope to instill in my students what my mother always told me, that they can accomplish anything they set their minds to. We can give our children these building blocks through education to use in decision making situations, moral value of their thoughts and actions. This will guide them to realize how their actions and decisions will affect themselves and others.