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For as long as I can remember I have wanted to be a teacher.  My mother was a teacher/librarian so naturally I was ALWAYS at a school.  I loved being there and spending time with my mom after school as she worked to get get set up for he next day. I would help her and also help her teacher friends in their classrooms and I always had so much fun!   During my senior year in high school I was really undecided about what I wanted to do.  I knew I wanted to go to college, but hadn't made up my mind about a major.   That summer I ended up working at a summer program for elementary school students and fell in love with it!  It was so rewarding seeing how much the kids grew during that summer, and it brought me so much joy every day to see their smiling faces full of excitement .Well the rest is history. :-)   I decided to go forward with a degree and elementary education and 13 years later I still love it!

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I decided to become a teacher so I could stop being a part of the complaint mill around me and make a difference, even in the small ways. I wanted to take my love of reading, literature, and writing and turn it into instruction. I wanted to help students understand that grit is what's needed to succeed in school, not necessarily a high IQ level. I became a teacher to show my students that it is always important to read everything, write fiercely, and always help those who can't help themselves. ~ Arphelia K. Cabell, ELA 7th and 8th grade

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I became a teacher after experiencing burnout working in the mental health field with adults for many years,  enjoying a brief stint as a Peace Corps volunteer at a primary school in Kingston, Jamaica and a year of teaching English in junior high schools in Japan. My second week of teaching 5th grade in Brooklyn, NY was marked by 9/11. I ended up teaching elementary school for three years. The impact of this and witnessing all of the social issues & challenges my students were experiencing made me start to think of a way that I could work with students while also using skills from my previous career. I decided on school social work and it is the best career I could ever imagine! You are able to collaborate and work alongside a team of adults who are also working towards positive growth and change for their students, see the students on a daily basis and involve their families in the process. (Ms. C)

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After high school, I entered Catonsville Community College taking accounting courses.  I received B grades but, felt as if I wasn't grasping the information fully and didn't have my heart in it.  One day, my computer professor, Mr. Gobel asked me what my major was.  He listened to my reluctance for accounting and suggested that I try Speech-Language Pathology because of my interest in helping others in small groups and learning sign language.  I continued along that path as a Communication Sciences and Disorders major at Towson State (which changed to Towson University during my last semester. :)

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I can rememer being a little girl and playing the "teacher" with my siblings. It was then that I decided that I can actually do this "teaching" thing. So, it stuck with me throughout my school days. It was not until I actually begin teaching and found that a student was gaining knowledge from my teaching. I felt that this was the best way that I could make a difference in this world. It's so rewarding to see a student learn something that you've presented to them. It's that "warm" feeling that let's you know that...yeah...you can do this. Wait! You are doing this this!

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I chose the education field because I want to impact children in a positive way.  Children need role models to look up to and influence them to become the best version of themselves.  In return, the reward is great.  Children are honest, fun, and happy.  I love being in environments where this is shared.  My hope is that the children I inspire will also inspire their communities in a positive way when they become adults.

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I love teaching because it is my passion.  It is fun to work with students daily  you never know what each day will bring.  I enjoy being a part of students educational, physical and emotional growth.

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Ms. Whye 6th Grade Math/Social Studies Teacher

Why I love being a teacher!!!
I have always wanted to be a teacher since first grade.  My first grade teacher left a great impression on me as well as many others over the past years.  Even though in college I did not major in education,  I still knew I wanted to be a teacher.  I majored in Business and Accounting and took education courses as my electives.
After graduating I worked in the accounting field for 5 years and during that time took more education courses.  After realizing sitting at a desk looking at four walls was not for me, I went and applied for a teaching job.  Then started my teaching career.
I have touched many hearts and minds over the years.  I love building relationships with my students and families.  Teaching is such a big part of my life and I would not trade it in for anything else.  Since then i have earned a Masters in Administration and over 30 hours tolward a Doctorate degree and here I am still in the classroom teaching young minds and loving it.
Teaching is my passion.  Ask anyone and they will tell you my famous quote is "I am raising the level of achievement in my students".  Toot toot to TEACHING!!!

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My choice to teach music was not to educate children about music, but to make a difference in their lives through the art of music. To let them know that even they have song and to sing it as loud as they can!! - Sierra Staton

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I never intended to be a teacher, but God knew that was the route for me.

I was in the accounting field for 15 years until the economy decided to have other plans for me and I lost 2 jobs in that time period because of the recession. I looked at my family and said, “Well, what do I do now?” My son and daughter both at the same time said, “Mom go back to school to become a teacher!”

I looked at my husband and he said, “Well there you have it.”

I thought about it, prayed on it. I went to visit my momma and she said, “I think you will make a great teacher, Tammy. You have a heart for helping those that need it and it always amazes me with the creative things you come up with for the grandkids to give me as presents. I think you should do it.” So, I went to school and got my degree the week after my momma lost her battle with cancer.

I live in Anne Arundel County, and when I was asked why I wanted to teach in Baltimore City, without hesitation I said, “Because I want to make a difference and I feel this is where I belong.”

Principal Brown was my first principal, who gave me a chance, and I have loved teaching ever since. I switched to 4th grade this year, and felt so much inspiration in this group, that I wrote the poem to share with them.

They liked it and I hope you all do too! Thank for reading Mrs. Polzin

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Ms. Jordan-Mason, First Grade ELA/Social Studies Teacher

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Sharon Smith - Visual Art

It was my desire to become an arts educator as a way to inspire young minds to the creative process and to show the rewards of how the arts effect their daily lives. It is my goal to teach creativity, innovation and encourage mistakes and experimentation in the artistic process. Exposing children to the arts, rewards them with a new way of expressing themselves. It further assists students an ability to gain a deeper understanding of topics being taught. This process builds self confidence, inner peace and the joy of creating their vision of something they have never thought possible. It is a tremendously beautiful moment when I see a child develop a sense of ones self, and develop a view of the world around them through the eyes of an artist. I do not underestimate the role of artistic development in a child’s education. I try to show how art is an essential component as a way of improving cognitive, collaborative, and problem solving skills, that enrich their communities, and enhance their education.

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I think I always wanted to teacher since I was little and playing school all summer in the back yard.  When my children went to Violetville I began volunteering and then worked part time running the very first computer lab.  Later the school was expanding from an elementary school to an elementary-middle school and the prinicpal asked me if I wanted to become the middle school math teacher.  I agreed and have never looked back.  I am happy to be part of this terrific school!

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I choice teaching as my profession because I love seeing children learn and grow to become the best version of themselves! ~Mrs. Mahoney