I worked in TV/radio in my first life and something was just missing. When I was thinking about becoming a career switcher I had the opportunity to work at Central Academy when it had the ropes course program. So I wasn’t a counselor; I wasn’t a teacher; I just had the background with rock climbing and playing. What I found was that I was passionate about giving students the opportunity to practice and learn the things that are outside of the classroom, that our best teachers incorporate but don’t always have time to make the focus. I thought about going into teaching but there was nothing that I was as passionate about as the life lessons and the life skills.
I love – when things are slow on the paper and email front – that that’s really what we’re here for, to give them opportunities to just figure out who they are and practice those skills that are going to make or break how successful they are in relationships and in the workplace and in adjusting and coping to all that’s to come.
Every day is different. I love that every day is different. And I get to see the best of the kids. Even though I have them at their worst sometimes, like when they’re really upset or really sad or depressed or even suicidal at times, I get to highlight their strengths and I get the time to just focus on what they are doing well and doing right. So much of what we do is one-to-one to get to know my kids. When we are in the large-group settings it’s usually just information-driven. When they’re right there and they’re with me I get a chance to get to know them and figure out how to best support them. It’s just really cool. I get to see the best of what’s to come.
I love that I’m back at Kellam. I’m an alumna. We’re really tied to our community. I grew up in Sandbridge. We’re big beach people – really outdoors people. We ventured out to Pungo on purpose. We wanted space to run and to ride ATVs and things like that. I just have the best kids and my husband’s phenomenal. We just have fun together.
We see students at the grocery store, at the beach and at Ocean Breeze, but I feel like it’s even more of a connection because my kids will come here. Everything we do is for the kids and to make the school great. Dr. Smith and I both say that: his kids will come here; my kids will come here; and what kind of school do we want for them?
#WeAreVBSchools
