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April Teacher Spotlight

How long have you been a teacher? I was a teacher’s assistant for nine years and I’ve been the classroom teacher for three years. I have been at Belle Chasse Academy for 12 years, 11 years in Kindergarten, and I’m currently teaching first grade. I love teaching!

Why did you choose teaching? I chose teaching because ever since I was about seven years old, I’ve wanted to teach. When I was a kid, we would play “school” and I was always the teacher.

What piece of advice would you give to new teachers? Try to glean as much information as you can from your student teaching assignments; it will take you very far. Also, connect with a mentor teacher for advice, sounding board, etc. Support is key for success as a new teacher.

What are your hobbies? I love to travel and take long walks along scenic paths.

How do you think your students would describe you? Funny, yet serious.

Who inspires you? My third grade teacher Mrs. Pelayo is my inspiration. She was so kind and sweet and made every student feel like we were her number one.

Do you have any website or social media recommendations? I’ve found a Core Knowledge Language Arts (CKLA) Educators group on Facebook helpful and Bitmoji Craze for Educators very helpful during quarantine. Teachers Pay Teachers and Pinterest have been great resources for me, too.

Favorite word? Perseverance. That is my students’ focus word this year and they are rocking it, big time!

Favorite food? Any New Orleans dish, shrimp creole, jambalaya, bbq shrimp, beignets. I love it all!

How would you describe your vibe this year? It has been very surreal for me teaching face-to-face during a pandemic. Before school began, I had no idea how this would work. I was nervous and afraid, but the experience has turned out to be an unexpectedly good one. The students have been so resilient and focused on learning while being safe at the same time. The students have really been an encouragement to me and a great influence for strength in the midst of difficulty.

What do you think teachers need the most right now? Support is what teachers need most right now, support from their administration, parents, and fellow teachers. We are teaching in very stressful, uncharted times. We’re doing our best and we need to feel that our efforts are appreciated and valued.

Anything else you’d like to share? I like to discover what my students are good at and hone in on that, then it is much easier to show them what they need to improve on. Also, I praise their efforts and build rapport with my students. Once we have rapport, they want to please and do their best. Then learning and lifelong lessons will take place for them.