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What is your motivation? What is it that you want? So, what is your why?

Create your response under this section.

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I attended a private school growing up. Private schools did not recognize disabilities, so if a student "couldn't do the work," that was the child's problem. I was not diagnosed with my learning disability until I was a junior in high school. For years I was told I was never going to make it in school, I would never be able to work, and I was never going to make it in life. Turns out, I just learn differently. It didn't bother me to learn I have a disability. I was honestly relieved to know because it verified that I'm not dumb, I just learn in a different way. All my life I had known I wanted to go into education as a career. In college I had my early education professor ask me in front of the class how I expected to become a teacher when I can't learn. I was humiliated, but even more determined to become the teacher I knew other kids like me needs. I became a teacher because I know what it takes to work hard, be resilient, teach myself, and succeed, and I want to teach other students they can do it, too.

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Choose ONE:

1. "Leaders are the ones who have the courage to go first and open a path for others to follow" (32). Reflect and explain what this quote means to you as an educator.

2. Our district mission statement is: "Central York School District provides a high-quality academic experience within a supportive, valued, collaborative community that promotes students’ personal growth and the pursuit of their passions and interests." Please explain how your individually nested why or your team why (department) contributes to our district mission statement.

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Share below:

"Tell specific stories of when you have felt most proud to work for this organization" (122)

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Section 5- Chapter 6-State Your Hows- Write one HOW action statement to show how you will bring your why to life (see 174 for help)

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Section 5- Chapter 6-State Your Hows- Write one HOW action statement to show how you will bring your why to life (see 174 for help)

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Take a moment to review the responses of others from each of the previous sections. Reflect on what you have written and what others have written.

In what way(s) will you keep your WHY alive every day? comment below

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I keep a Post It note on my desk by my phone that reminds me to keep looking for those who may be in need. It reminds me to slow down and find individuals I may be missing. I never want anyone to feel left out or neglected.

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For me, my why is always evolving. I believe it started small and has expanded to where I am today. Motivation can also change based on where I am in my why. What I really want is for all students to know how to swim and to be able to save themselves, or someone they know, or even to break a cycle of not knowing how to swim. BUT my why is I want to see my students succeed and believe that they are amazing at where they are right now and always have room for growth, just like they show in my class. Every student has something to learn. It isn't just to know how to swim, it is how to use the swimming experience and apply it to their life.

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When I first started in the field of social work I wasn't entirely sure where I would end up. Prior to finishing up my undergrad I contemplated going into law and policy. In my grad placement I ended up going into a high school and fell in love with that role in a school. Coming in Central York in 2019 through Laurel Life I felt this immediate connection to this community/area. My Why is to come to this school and provide a place for students to feel heard and safe. Everyone's bad is different, but that doesn't mean that each person doesn't deserve an opportunity to be heard. I want the students I work with to excel in life beyond the academic part. Some of these student's have so many outside factors playing against them, that when they have a small or large victory it is important to celebrate them. My new position here has provided me so much joy and growth and I look forward to what each day will present.

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I had always enjoyed being active and sports. Growing up I took pride in my PE classes because I was good at it. I was better being active than in the classroom. I wanted to be a physical therapist or trainer after I badly sprained my ankle as a junior and was always in the trainer's room doing rehab. When I went off to college, I had to make a decision and I figured why not go into health and PE. I knew I wanted to help others be active and love sports like me. As the years have gone by, my passion has shifted to helping students become the best version of themselves as they can. And along the way, I get to teach students how to not be afraid of the water and how to survive in water by learning how to swim. But more importantly, it is to shine light that we all have different abilities and maybe setbacks, but can also accomplish the same goals, just in a different way.

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Part of why I got into teaching is the combination of a subject I love (science) and the opportunity to help others. When I started tutoring in high school, I found that I enjoyed breaking down concepts so my peers could better understand what they were struggling with. In addition, I saw the effect on others when they gained more confidence in what they were able to do. Besides teaching the content of science, each day offers the potential to have a positive impact on at least one student, and that is what truly motivates me to come to work each day.

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My original career plans did not include becoming a teacher. While I was in medical school I became unsure of whether I wanted to have the life of a doctor so I took a leave of absence to do some soul searching. In looking back at how much I enjoyed tutoring and the subject matter of science, I decided to pursue a teaching certification to combine my natural talents and interests.

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As a member of the special education team here at the high school, we strive daily to promote individual student growth. We track individual academic goals and measure progress which drives our instruction as classroom teachers. In teaching students with individualized education plans, it is priority to meet students where they are and grow them from their starting place. We also continually help students find their passions and interests or learn about the current passions and interests they have and set them up with resources that may help them understand how those interests can tie into potential post secondary plans. Each student has a transition plan as a part of the their individual learning plan and we as a team help develop and monitor those for each student. Our mission statement is what I love most about my job, looking at the student as an individual and how they can be a productive, successful member of our community.

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I knew that I was going to be a teacher at a very young age. I absolutely love helping people learn and have the "OH I GET IT!" moments. I love seeing students' faces light up when they discover something new. Honestly, my motivation is the students. I enjoy having conversations, teaching, and even learning from them. They are the reason why I am here and doing what I love.

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Central York High School= A Great Place for Staff and Students 

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Central York High School= A Great Place for Staff and Students 

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Many thoughts come to mind when I think of why I am proud to be a panther. One item that makes me proud to be a panther is the level of student choice that we have here at the high school. I like the arena scheduling and students selecting their own schedule as well as the invaluable learning opportunities such as going part of the day to York County School of Technology or having an internship. I always share with students my reasons why I'm proud to be a panther on the first day of school. It really gets them engaged and thinking about why our district is so special.

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I found my desire to teach starting in the second grade.  I had academically struggled in kindergarten and first grade, then I had the best second grade teacher.  She was intelligent, nurturing, caring and made learning fun and engaging.  She had a career day where all students were instructed to dress up for what they wanted to be when they grew up.  I wanted to be a nurse, but my mom (Please note this was well prior to the days of Amazon.)couldn’t find a costume.  She suggested I dress as a teacher and pulled an outfit together for me.  I could see how elated my teacher was that I dressed like a teacher.  She encouraged me to be a teacher that day.

I always thought that I would go to college and study elementary education to be just like my second grade teacher.  However, when I graduated with a dual major (Elementary Education and Special Education), the job market was inundated with certified elementary school teachers.  There were over 200 job applicants at some districts for one vacant position.  The only way I was even getting calls for interviews was due to the college professor who oversaw me as a student teacher having connections in the county.  I needed a job immediately to work towards paying back my college debt, so I relied on my certification in special education which was nursery school through 12th grade to get my first only long term substitute position teaching gifted middle school education.  Once my long term substitute position was over I had accepted a full-time high school learning support position.  I had taught full-time learning support and was the transition coordinator for six years.  In the process I knew I’d one day like to teach regular education, so I got certified to teach English 6-12 (a requirement was made to become highly qualified in one subject area  as a special education teacher in PA) and Business and Information Technology K-12.  A business teacher was leaving where I taught in the special education department.  The district didn’t want to replace her but still wanted to run a school to work program and her business courses.  I proposed to the district that they make me part-time learning support and part-time business education, so the program and courses could still run.  They accepted my offer.  I fulfilled both positions for four years.  I then started applying more actively for full-time business education positions as that’s what my heart had really desired to do.  I remember crying after hanging up the phone when Dr. Potteinger called to tell me I was the final candidate for the full-time business position here at Central York High School.  While it was interesting transitioning to a new school at the end of October and getting married a week later, I have no regrets.  I’ve never felt more valued and appreciated for my time, education and talents as I do here at Central York High School.

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My why is always expanding but the root to my why in everything is because i love helping others. Being able to help people in so many ways makes my job that much more enjoyable. I love being able to sit down with these high school kiddos that are completely lost and being able to watch them accomplish big things makes it that much better. In my position it offers something new at every turn which also affords me the ability to keep learning and motivating myself as well as the kids in new ways

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If I am being completely honest I never intended on going into education. When I was deciding on a career I originally went for medical imaging. I quickly realized it was not something that held my interest. When I switched into social work I wasn't sure what career in the field of social work I wanted to do. It wasn't until I did my first year grad school placement at my old high school with the school social worker and worked in alternative education that I realized this was my passion or calling. I know that I am not an educator in the sense of teaching, but I am grateful I work in this building and amongst all these wonderful individuals

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Option 1: When I think of this my mentor, Emanuel Brown, comes to my mind. Being one of the first school social workers in the county Emanuel has paved the way for myself and the other school social workers to be successful. He is always there to provide guidance and feedback on any situations that I am unsure of how to approach. He has provided a smooth transition into my role and I am grateful for him and all the work he has done and continues to do.

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I don't know if I can pin point a specific moment or event, but more a series of ongoing experiences with staff and students here. When the sunshine committee has put out things for different staff who have hardships and seeing the amount of staff who have stepped up to help. On the first day of school the excitement everyone has for seeing each other after being off. When staff have come together to support students in need and showing up to different events for students whether its sports, academics, music, and even things beyond involvement in the school.

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I will help students and families feel supported and heard by creating a welcoming environment/space. I will continue to ask for guidance and support from my co-workers and participate in trainings to ensure I can best meet student's needs.

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I will continue to bring my best self to work everyday. Working in education is exhausting at times and we all go through the waves of emotions and our own outside issues/struggles. Leaving that to the side will allow students to come into a welcoming environment.

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I think my "why" is to make sure people feel heard, seen, and met wherever they are. I say "people" because I believe this is how I navigate my interpersonal relationships as well -- I try to offer authenticity and thoughtfulness. As an educator, this translates into taking the time to hear students' points of view and encouraging them towards growth from whatever angle. My own experience showed that growth doesn't happen easily without being seen and affirmed, but when the affirmation happens, huge strides are possible.

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I fell into teaching by the back door, as it allowed me to deepen my curiosity of language by explaining it to others and engaging with it every single day. A wise person at Central once told me, "You didn't choose teaching; teaching choose you," which floored me to some degree. As I'm writing this, I'm seeing that my care of people absolutely manifests in how I teach even though it was the subject matter that piqued my curiosity first.

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One of the reasons I try to be authentic in my classroom is because I want the students to know that if I'm recommending something -- overcoming public speaking to learn a foreign language, traveling to a foreign country, navigating problems -- is because these are all things I have lived through and grew through as a small town Pennsylvania girl. I have never thought that I may have blazed a trail for my students, but perhaps I'm the voice that tells them yes, your random dreams are possible.

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Going to any CYPA performance makes me absolutely amazed to be a panther. Students are inspired, creative, alive, and proud in all of those performances in ways I hope to tap into my classroom. Students seem especially alive when they're creating!

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Like others have mentioned, it's difficult to pinpoint or zoom in on one specific scenario and situation that makes me most proud but I have really been encouraged and inspired by the inclusion happening throughout our district, specifically at the high school. There are more clubs that are opening up to include more students and of course, the wonderful Youth Activation Committee and Unified Sports! Love seeing students having different opportunities to shine at differing levels. I've never been more proud to say - I've been working at CYHS for 20 years! :)

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Option 2 - The quote I have as my email tag line was adopted by several of us in the science department - "Science education instills and promotes exploration of the natural world to enable thinkers to thrive in and improve upon our ever-changing world." To support this motto, we offer a wide variety of science electives so that students of all abilities, with varied interests, are able to further their science education beyond the 3 required credits. This goes along with our district mission statement of providing a high-quality academic experience (standard, honors, and AP level all offered) that promotes the pursuit of students' passions and interests (a wide variety of electives offered). Within my subject areas of chemistry and biology, the support and collaboration with my colleagues enables me to provide a better academic experience since I am able to help students make connections between the various science courses they may end up taking based on their individual passions, interested, and possible future plans.

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Our mission statement is how I want all of my students to feel when they leave their swimming unit. Especially with my elementary students, I want them to know that they are valued and I am here to support them throughout their swimming journey. I see all students in our district for grades 2, 4, 9 (and next year most of the 10th graders) allowing students to know that they matter is a big part of my why. My why for teaching is more than learning the swimming strokes and how to save themselves. I want them to feel supported when they can't swim and to teach them how to advocate for themselves. I want them to feel valued when they learn a new skill, maybe one that they were scared of. And I want them to grow, not just in their swimming skills, but as an individual as well. Throughout the years my teaching job as turned into my passion. To see students grow and develop into who they are meant to be is great joy. Finding that joy in every class is a big part of my why.

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I became an educator because I wanted to positively influence students and make an impact in their lives. I started off as an early childhood educator which allowed me to impact very young children each and every day. When I switched to the high school, I had found that I not only wanted to teach students, but I also wanted to be there for them to help and guide them in their every day lives.

Furthermore, I wanted to become a librarian because I know how important it is for each person to read for pleasure. The valuable lessons, getting lost in a whole new world, and just enjoying a piece of literature is a passion of mine. I allow my energy and excitement for books to shine through and the power of discussions of books and lessons learned has been so powerful for some of the students I see each day.

I became an educator to make an impact on the youth of today. I want to be a safe person for them to come to if needed as well as a resource. This is why I became an educator.

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1. "Leaders are the ones who have the courage to go first and open a path for others to follow" (page 32).

This quote resonates with me as an educator because I am the leader. I need to model behaviors that I want to see in my students. I need to have the courage to address issues that may be difficult to talk about, but allow the path of open communication to be the link between myself and my students. By modeling positive behavior and communication, students will see how this impacts relationships in a positive way. I think my positive energy in the HUB allows students to feel welcome and safe in the library. They feel comfortable talking to me, asking for help, and seeking me out if they need advice. I think by showing them I am a leader who loves what I do, they sense the confidence and feel secure in this environment.

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Years ago Mary Carbaugh gave me a flag to hang up in the hub. I am so glad that I hung onto it because it now represents my WHY! "World Peace"- like why can't we all just get along, right?! Since I teach seniors, I typically have them try to look beyond being a student which has been their main role for 13 years to find their why! I think world peace starts from within one's own self, consciously choosing joy every day and finding happiness within yourself because that's who you spend the most time with on the daily. Then, you can find the best in others too. I think it is easy to focus on the negative or things we don't like about others or the world; however, if one changes their perspective from within, it easy to find the positive in everyone, hence, my why.

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"When you're at graduation this year and other teachers are crowded around the bubbly, high achieving students who have all the chords, make a point to find that student with the IEP or the one who rarely spoke, struggled but showed up for your class and hit them with the most inspirational words you can pull out. That student has just climbed their Mt. Everest"

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I ask my seniors to write "a parting letter to friend" as final reflection on the World Literature course. One bullet item is... what piece of advice would you give an underclassman for how to handle Mrs. Parido as the teacher of this course. I have copied/pasted one student's response, but many students gave a similar answer. Sometimes you have to bring YOUR enthusiasm and maybe, just maybe it becomes contagious? This is the HOW to my WHY:

"Mrs. Parido is that she is passionate about the topics she teaches. It is important for students to pay attention and appreciate the work that she puts in."

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Over the years, my why has changed based on many factors - faith, family, friends, employment as well as the environment. For example, when I was single and lived and worked in New Jersey, my why was to live close enough to walk along the beach at least 5 times a week. As life changed, faith and family became my focus and my why changed as well - parenting to the best of my ability. Parenting has and will always be my greatest and most rewarding role/why - pride in raising caring, intelligent, successful, independent adults is quite a feeling! In addition to parenting, for the last fifteen years, I have also been part of the Central community working as a PCA and currently, a paraprofessional. Coming to school and working with students every day, I try to encourage students to start looking for their why. I share my knowledge and experience and build relationships that help encourage others to be successful as my why evolves.

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I became an educator quite honestly because I wanted my work schedule to coincide with my children's school year schedule. After the first few months though, I knew this was not just a job. I was doing something I truly enjoyed - I was making an impact on the student I was PCA to, for two years. Then, I moved to the high school and began working in different classrooms, and different subject areas with different students. The challenge of learning new material so I could best help a student or group of students understand is very rewarding. When people ask me about my job, I often tell them "It is the best part of education, working with the students but not having to get wrapped up with grading, lesson planning, and all of the the extras that teachers are responsible for. I can swoop in, help out and move along."

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#1 - I do believe "Leaders are the ones who have the courage to go first and open a path for others to follow." Looking back at my younger self, I always admired people who weren't afraid to raise their hand, ask questions and speak in front of a group. It took a long time for me to gain that confidence and take the risk of asking someone to repeat or explain something again so I would better understand. A true leader - a caring person who wants you to succeed - will not think less of you - they ALWAYS applaud the person who is a self-advocate. Leaders want others to be successful and encourage growth.

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I believe I "Take a Stand" by starting each day with a clean slate. Sometimes, by 8:10 my slate is a jumbled mess and other days, it may only have a line or two on it. Some days, as I walk into a classroom, a student will just look at me, shake their head and give me the "NOT TODAY" message. Then there are other days, when students ask to work with me, want clarification and support, or maybe just someone to listen. Although it may be frustrating trying to figure out who needs what, when, and how - I have to remember my why and help them on the path to figuring out theirs.

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My why is to help students see that nothing is set in stone.  Not the way they are feeling, not the circumstances they are in, not the way they feel about books, reading, or even education overall.  It actually took me a really long time to get to this why and it’s certainly not what I would have said when I started teaching, or even 5 or 10 years ago.  The way I view my day and my approach to teaching has changed so much since I became a parent, since I started teaching the reading intervention class, and especially when we started the yearlong intervention class.  I think that is one of the best things about being in education is that everything changes from day to day, year to year, class to class and that can directly relate to what motivates me or my why—it can be different depending on which class or which students.  However, my BIG why is always the same—to help anyone who comes into my classroom to see the bigger picture and to believe that they can (whatever that may mean to them) by the time they leave this room.

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In Maryland, you only need a high school diploma to substitute teach.  So while I was in college, I started substitute teaching on my off days and during breaks at the middle school I once attended.  Something clicked while I was subbing and I realized this was something I could see myself doing in my grown-up life.  I changed my major, and about the same time, I met Mr. Denison.  He was my inspiration for the rest of my semesters at college and he is the reason I student taught here at Central, and found my home.  Mr. Denison was the first English teacher (or professor) I ever had who really believed in me.  I realized that maybe if any of my other teachers had believed in me or encouraged me the way he did, I would have liked ELA more, or at the very least tried harder.  I knew that would be my goal as a teacher-to be like Mr. Denison and believe in my students.  I still try to keep that in mind—that for the most part, our students are giving us the best they have, and that is different for everyone.  My goal is to just encourage them to keep going and try their best.

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I have a folder that has all of the positive and encouraging notes that teachers and students have given me throughout the years.  Whenever I am feeling like I don’t know what I’m doing or I just don’t feel like I’m getting through to my students, I look at it.  Just this past semester, one of my graduating seniors gave me a note that said “Thank you for helping me find my voice.”   The statement is so brief, and yet to me, it is one of the most powerful messages she could have written.  I keep going because I hope to continue helping students find their voice, maybe find their why, and most importantly, to encourage them in all ways.

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Personally and professionally, my way seems to be consistent in that I just want to love children and help them in absolutely any way I can.  As a young girl, I can remember talking about my excitement to one day become a mom and a grandma and love them with all I could possibly love. Professionally, I was sitting in the Panther Preschool class at Central as a student and thought to myself that I want my teachers job. Ultimately, I want to see every student/child that comes into my life to be the best they can be. I strive everyday to help them grow in all areas of their lives. I know we all have things to learn and I am continuously learning and growing with my students.  I work hard at being a positive role model for all children/students that come through my classroom and my heart.

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I have wanted to be a teacher my entire life. I always thought I wanted to be an elementary teacher as I would read to my stuffed animals all the time. It wasn’t until high school when I was a student in ECE that I knew this would be the path I would take to be a teacher. I loved working with the preschoolers and started my path to being the teacher I am today.

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I have been a FCS Department head and HSHS Academy leader and these roles I take very seriously. Combined years, I have held these roles for 20+ years. As a rule follower and a strong passioinate teacher, I look to guide my department as a team to what is best for students. The district’s mission statement is how I try to run my classroom everyday. I am always looking to provide high-quality experiences and opportunities for my students. As for my department, I have learned that I can only support and help grow passion with members that choose to grow together as a team. We are all here with the same common goal and it is what is best for students.

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I am beyond proud to tell people that I work for Central York. I truly love my job and all aspects working with my students and the children. I love those moments when the high school students click and create strong connections with the preschoolers. One of the most rewarding pieces to my job is when my former students return back to teach at Central and I can proudly say they were my students and I helped to mold and guide them to become teachers themselves.

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I will continue to help students gain the best experience they can while in my courses. The more hands on opportunities I can provide for them the better their knowledge of a child's development becomes. I will also continue to try to support all my preschool families through the process of K enrollment and what is best for their children. I will also continue to ask for support and guidance from peers and others to continue to professionally grow.

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To have a position where I can teach students how to have a life saving skill in swimming makes me proud to be at Central. But within the swimming unit, when I get a student who has never been in water in 2nd grade and to see them progress and grow to be able to swim to the side, safely in 4th grade warms my heart. The way the students lift each other up and rally behind their classmates who may struggle with swimming is beautiful to watch. Also, to see students support one another at other activities or events. There is a great team spirit and I love that they are there for each other.

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I will continue to look for solutions to make my classroom better. Especially with the changes that are coming to elementary swimming, I will strive to stay optimistic because that helps the other How's to happen. The more I can connect with my students and make them feel safe and seen, the more room there will be for growth and mastery from my students.

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I think it is important to remember that my WHY is always growing and changing. As my life changes, so may my WHY. Some parts will remain constant, but I feel it is important to continue to visit as life changes. A big part of my why is to see my students see more in themselves and that they have amazing gifts. I will continue to shine light on the positive and what my students are doing well, then to dwell on what is not going well or the negative. Students thrive on positive and love and that is what will keep my why alive and strong.