Her Story
About Jeanne
I dedicated 29 years to teaching in the Keensburg School District, where I had the privilege of working with young learners at critical stages of their development. My last position was as an RTI ELA teacher, where I worked with children who are Tier 2 or Tier 3 in reading and writing, doing both push-in and pull-out instruction. Before that, I was a kindergarten teacher, getting to work with the babies, which I loved. My most rewarding achievement has been getting a child who's struggling with sounds and blending in kindergarten or first grade to fully understand words and how they work, then eventually reading and connecting it to writing. Though I recently retired, I stay active in education by tutoring in reading, guided reading, and writing. I also help a mom each morning, arriving at her house around quarter to 7 to get her two kids ready for the day. These two kids have great personalities, and every day I feel like I'm back in the classroom a little bit, trying to figure out what's going to work and what will perk their interest. It's helping me through this transition from a full schedule, and I love having the rest of the day to myself. Throughout my career, I've learned that as generations change, you have to adapt yourself to the children, their families, and their needs. How I taught when I first started wouldn't really work for this new generation of kids, so flexibility is essential.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Jeanne
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to being calm and smiling a lot. I think, especially working with young children, they want to walk into a classroom and see a smiling teacher. You have to love what you're doing, and when you do, you show those feelings towards children. It's a responsibility to work with somebody else's child, so you want to be at your best. That positive energy and genuine love for the work makes all the difference in connecting with kids and helping them learn.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Be flexible and learn from the children, not only from your schooling, but learn from the children. I've taught for 29 years now, and how I taught when I first started wouldn't really work for this new generation of kids. You have to adapt yourself to the children, their families, and their needs. Each generation is different, so staying flexible and responsive to who your students are today is essential to being an effective educator.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Technology is the biggest challenge. Kids nowadays are exposed to so much technology, almost too much, that it's hard to keep their attention. As an educator in a classroom filled with 25 students, you have to be very entertaining in order to teach your lessons effectively. All the children want to do is go on the iPads or other devices. I think teachers nowadays should really limit that. Technology is great, but to a point. It hinders socialization if that's what they're doing when they're going into homes. So while technology has its place, finding the right balance is critical.
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