Smith County Insider’s “Educator Spotlight” series is our way of celebrating the incredible educators in Smith County who go above and beyond for their students, both inside and outside of the classroom!
Today’s “Educator Spotlight” features Katelyn Woodard. Katelyn teaches 5th and 6th grade English at Union Heights Elementary School.
Katelyn is from Carthage, and this is her 6th year of teaching.
Smith County Insider interviewed Katelyn about her experiences as an educator, and this is what she had to say.
SCI: When did you realize that you wanted to be a teacher?
KW: As a little girl, you could always find me playing school, it is just something that I have always been interested in. Also, throughout my school career, I had several teachers that made an impact in my education. The most I remember was the way they showed that learning can be fun. Some memories have stuck around that I think of those teachers often during the school year and it causes me to think about every interaction with students and the thought of, “what will they remember about their 5th or 6th grade year, 30 years from now”. I want to show students that they can become lifelong learners and it can actually be enjoyable.
SCI: What is the most rewarding part of your job?
KW: Getting to teach the students for two years can have its struggles, but overall when they leave me at the end of their 6th grade year, I am able to sit back and reflect on all the growth that has happened during that time. Their 6th grade year seems to have the biggest growth for me, because they’re aware of my expectations, they feel more comfortable with the subject area and we get to dive a bit deeper into topics. Seeing a student grow over those two years is the most rewarding aspect of being a teacher.
SCI: What inspires you?
KW: Being a teacher that has access to social media these days can be very inspiring. Sometimes, I wonder how teachers before such platforms were accessible gathered ideas. Through Instagram, and Facebook, I am able to follow different teachers, groups and pages to gather all kinds of ideas from. I often ask questions and within seconds, teachers are answering me back from all over the United States. Following other teachers that have taught what I am teaching and have brought other ideas to the table is very inspiring and often creates a spark of joy to help me push through some very stressful moments.
SCI: What’s the best piece of advice you have for your students?
KW: My advice that I give to all students is to try, ask questions, and try to find connections to everything when learning so that it sticks in our brains longer.
SCI: What do you like to do in your free time?
KW: Free time usually consists of working on projects around the house and spending time outdoors with my husband and children.
Thank you for your dedication to your students, Katelyn!
Don’t miss Smith County Insider’s next “Educator Spotlight”!
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