English Teacher

Whenever I am asked about the factors that have greatly influenced my choice to become an educator, I always contribute my overall success to my 6th grade Language Arts/Literacy teacher, Mrs. Toni Bauknight. Mrs. Bauknight was the epitome of what it looked like when one decided to venture into the field of education and breathed and lived for the idea and the practice of giving to others through service; while, simultaneously, demonstrating that true education does not necessarily begin with, or finally end with, the heavy accumulation of the methodologies and the pedagogies that are generally learned in school. Mrs. Bauknight fully understood that there was so much more to service far beyond the confinements of a book or a binder or a building…it resonated from within and throughout the absolute core of the heart! Her contagious passion for the love of literature, her unyielding sense of patience for the various levels of learners, her graceful presence and elegant demure when commanding a classroom of adolescents, and her unwavering concern for others were characteristics that I worked diligently to emulate for the past twenty-five years of teaching. I only wish she could have known the impact that she has left on me as both an educator and as a human being. Unbeknownst to her, I am her legacy…and so proud to be so. Hopefully, one day, a student will share the same sentiments about me.

Within the time of my professional career as an educator, I have had the great honor and the amazing privilege to be embraced and surrounded by outstanding teachers. Outstanding teachers whom, to this day, I feel compelled to pay homage to because they have paved a way that will forever be marked with integrity, dedication, and humility. I believe that I have been taught by the greats! These unique individuals were unyielding and unwavering when it boiled down to the true nature of support and service. They gave of their time even when there was no more time to spare. They listened with an intense level of focus and genuine concern even when the distractions floating around them were numerous and great in size. They assisted others in need even when their own resources were scarce. They opened a welcoming and safe space for many to find solace even when they needed a safe haven of their own. It is no wonder why people constantly seek out the sanctuary of outstanding teachers; because even at the expense of depleting their own emotional bank, outstanding teachers will still find a way to lift up the lives of others. I will always view myself as an outstanding-teacher-in-training. I am someone who will forever find joy in knowing that it is a role that I wish to attain one day; the one day on which I will be able to stand side-by-side those outstanding teachers who walked elegantly before me.

School Nurse

Being born and raised in Elizabeth and having the wonderful role model parents that I did were surely the greatest factors in my deciding to pursue a nursing profession. Choosing a career of service in my own community, as they did, was not a conscious decision, but an obvious one. Engrained in me was a tremendous work ethic and an overabundance of empathy and compassion. My work in the public school system affords me the opportunity to advocate for those who need it most and make a positive difference in their lives.

School nursing by definition is a specialized practice of professional nursing that advances the well-being, academic success, and lifelong achievement of students. The health services provided are vast. They include: Assessment of health complaints, medication administration, and care for students with special health needs; A system for managing emergencies and urgent situations; Mandated health screening programs, verification of immunizations, and infectious disease reporting; and Identification and management of students' chronic health care needs that affect educational achievement. Outside of nursing experience and skills, compassion coupled with disarming interpersonal skills have been my greatest attributes in this position. Over the years, reaching out and effectively communicating with families, many times connecting them to available community resources, has directly impacted the success of many students in my school nursing career.