Resource Teacher

Becoming a primary school teacher is something I always wanted to do. I have been greatly inspired by many great teachers who I have always looked up to and admired. Most importantly, it was by my love for working with children, enjoyment in teaching, and the desire to help children with special challenges that influenced me. Seeing children discover new things and take pleasure in doing so has been a very rewarding experience. However, my greatest inspiration to become a special education teacher was my son Tristin. Although teaching all children is rewarding, I have learned from my son overcoming challenges and achieving goals that teaching those with special needs is the most fulfilling. My first-born son Tristin is a special needs child. To watch my son grow and watch him gradually achieve developmental milestones gave me a motivation that goes far beyond traditional academic achievement. There is no career that is more rewarding or more important. To be an inspiring teacher you must really want to do it. Inspiring teachers don’t go into it with the thought of it being a career move. They want to help sculpt the minds of the future, to be there for those who need it.

I feel like I have a great deal of patience which I believe is a very important quality to hold when working with children. A teacher who has a passion for teaching will strive for the best for their students to achieve. I have a real passion for teaching as well as a great deal of patience. Throughout my years of teaching, I have seen my love for teaching grow and it has shown me that becoming a teacher has been very rewarding. I am also an enthusiastic and motivated person who has a love for teaching. I also consider myself to be very approachable and compassionate, which I believe is a very important quality to hold when working with children. In addition, I have good organizational skills and am a very hard worker. I am always willing to learn new skills and build upon the skills I already have. Furthermore, I enjoy teaching children new things as well as coming up with new ways to teach different learning styles. Great teachers facilitate thinking and engaging minds and do not just explain. An excellent teacher is someone who inspires, encourages, and supports students who struggle as well as encourages risks. Also, great teachers use differentiation, accommodations, and modifications to help students with different learning styles. As a special education teacher, watching a child gain confidence by making independent decisions, even within the limitations of their disability, it is a powerful reward.

The best reason to be a teacher is that you want to have a positive, inspiring impact on children’s lives. You achieve this by being kind, caring, empathic, passionate and funny. These are great qualities that a teacher should possess.

School Psychologist

I grew up in a family that continually emphasized the value and importance of education, however, I was surprised by my mother’s decision to return to the workforce as a teacher when I was in fifth grade. Prior to becoming a stay at home mom, she had worked with computers for AT&T; not only did she completely change her career, but she also began working as a teacher at my school. While most other kids spent less time with their working mothers, I was able to spend more time with my mom by volunteering to watch her class before school or during my lunches and free periods. Through my involvement until I graduated high school, I gained a new perspective on education. As I interacted with her students and assisted my mother in the preparation of lessons, I began to understand the intricate planning and complexity of teaching twenty-four children with different backgrounds and needs. I became particularly interested in why some students struggled more than others academically and/or in the social emotional domain as well as how to support teachers in working with these students. Later, as a psychology major in college, I discovered that the field of school psychology would allow me to dedicate my career to these interests, enabling me to support students directly but also holistically along with school staff and parents. The ability to advocate for students and contribute to creating an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive resonates with my personal values.

My job responsibilities are varied but include conducting psychological assessments, developing Individualized Education Plans, providing counseling services to students facing social, emotional or behavioral challenges as well as crisis intervention. In addition, I also collaborate closely with teachers, parents, and administrators to create supportive learning environments tailored to each student's needs that utilize evidence-based interventions. What sets me apart is my commitment to building strong relationships with students, staff and families, fostering trust and encouraging open communication to facilitate student progress. By advocating for mental health resources and promoting awareness, I endeavor to create a culture of understanding and support within the school. My work directly impacts student success by addressing barriers to learning, fostering a positive school climate, and ensuring every student feels valued and supported on their educational journey.