What can we as students, parents and the community do to support our
teachers? To support our teachers and students, parents and the community,
we must love and support our children by spending time with them, encouraging
them, by dedicating resources to inspire them, and by understanding the
challenges of childhood, especially now. If we don’t lose sight of what it means
to be a child; to play, to dream, and to interact positively with one another, we
do such good not just for our children but for all that serve and support them,
including teachers. By doing so, we help them succeed in facing the challenges
of childhood and reach their potential. And, we show them the value of teaching
as it supports them as individuals as well as within a community.
Jennifer
Gates
Current school and grade (subject): Retired
Other schools/grades/subjects previously taught: Mountain View
Elementary School — gifted and talented, STEM (Science, Technology,
Engineering and Mathematics) and science; University-level courses,
elementary and middle school; General education, inclusive and special
education, STEM and gifted and talented, English language learners,
special education, communications, dramatic art and journalism.
How many years have you been an educator?17
Amy Archer
Current school and grade (subject):
Russell Elementary School — kindergarten, ESOL
Other schools/grades/subjects previously taught:
W. O. Lance Elementary School (Lanett, Alabama) — first grade
How many years have you been an educator?7
Why are you a teacher?My goal as a teacher is to help my students
develop positive outlooks on life, cultural sensitivity, and a love for learning.
Once a child enters my classroom, I consider them to be a student
of mine for life. When you have a heart for teaching children, you do
not simply have a student for a month, year, semester, etc. You are that
child’s teacher and support for life.
Claire
Dunaway Cyr
Tell us a success story about a student you helped.During my first year of
teaching, I had a student who was an absolute stand-out; he was creative, humble
yet confident in my class, talented, hard-working and willing to take suggestions
and run with them. He always elevated his artwork to the next level as I
knew he could. He was the kind of kid I knew would be successful. Then testing
week came. I was a proctor in his home room to help with testing. I saw this
same student struggle with every aspect of testing... keeping up, comprehension,
even staying on the correct question. Most of his answers were wrong. He
seemed defeated. This child had a learning disability I was completely unaware
of; I assumed he was gifted in all areas. What a huge impact he had on me! He
is now a successful young man with his wonderful family, countless wonderful
Current school and grade (subject):Ford Elementary — kindergarten through fifth grade art
Other schools/grades/subjects previously taught: Arts-Kids, a youth development through
art program in Utah focusing on elementary through early teen underserved populations.
How many years have you been an educator?15
teachers and his work ethic encouraging
him along the way. I have also
been honored to see some of my old
students become artists, architects,
illustrators and creative problem-solvers
in other fields.
38 COBB LIFE | JANUARY 2022