How did you find your way to where you are today? Share a little about your professional journey.

I grew up always thinking I would want to go into teaching. I played school as a little girl and was so excited when I got a chalkboard for Christmas. When I was accepted to Furman, my dad cautioned me about choosing education as my major because he was worried it would limit my career opportunities if I later found that teaching was not for me. While at Furman, I made the decision to major in communication studies. Throughout my four years, I took many education electives, always loving my field experiences and wondering if I made the wrong choice. After graduating, I quickly made the decision to get my master’s degree in education. I have now been teaching for nine years and cannot imagine myself doing anything else.

What inspires you?

I am inspired by the thought of reaching children and that is something I try to remind myself of every day. It does not always come easy, but at the end of the school year I can look back at the children I have come to know and feel confident I influenced their life. Each year my students spend their fifth grade year with me learning new skills, discovering how to set and attain their own personal goals, and knowing they are important and loved.

When providing advice for professional development, what are some tools or resources one should consider?

With the level of accountability that comes along with teaching, there are always going to be professional development opportunities that are both provided and required. My best advice is to find a teacher who inspires you. It can be a friend, a teacher in your building, or a teacher you heard speak at a conference. Teaching is all about your own experiences and finding what works best for you. I can honestly say I learned little in the classroom setting. What the text book says you should do gets thrown out the window when you have students with severe emotional disabilities, or a student who is dealing with a brother dying of cancer. That being said, two books that have inspired me are Move Your Bus by Ron Clark, and The Leader in Me by Stephen Covey and Sean Covey.

What are some challenges you face in your industry?

Without a doubt, the most challenging aspect of education is that you are not just dealing with teaching the basics. The standards are constantly being raised (sometimes to the point they are not developmentally appropriate), students are being tested now more than they ever have been before, and you are dealing with families where education is not a priority at home. There are many days that you feel that you are fighting an uphill/losing battle. With all of the stress that many of my students face outside of their school life, it is a wonder to me they can even show up at school ready to learn. However, there are moments of redemption, where all the challenges disappear and you feel that a light has come on. It is that type of day that keeps you coming back day after day, year after year.

What do you wish you would have known getting started in your field?

I wish I would have known how important it is to spend as much time in the classroom as possible. Learning how to be a good teacher has little to do with what you are taught in the classroom or what you read in text books. Learning how to be a good teacher is all about your experience in a real classroom and your ability to connect with the students you are teaching. Spend as much time, extra if at all possible, in your field experiences. That is where you will learn your style, find things that work and definitely do not work, and where you will have the opportunity to find out who you want to be as a teacher.

Are there any unspoken rules or recommendations that “they” don’t tell you?

I have a quote posted right next to my computer that I look at consistently. Harry Wong said there are four stages to teacher: “Fantasy, survival, mastery, and impact.” Your first year, regardless of how prepared you may feel you are, is your survival year. It is hard, you will make mistakes, and you will have days where you feel you are not reaching your students. It gets better. You will master the content you teach, the style of teaching that best fits your personality, and how to build relationships with your students. That is when you will feel that full weight of your impact on those children.

How has your liberal arts background shaped your career path or supported your success?

My liberal arts education gave me the freedom to find that career I am truly passionate about. While at Furman, I was never locked into one major or course of study. I was able to finish my requirements for my degree in communication studies while still having time to explore other areas of interest. It was that freedom to explore that lead me back to education, for which I am extremely grateful.