I knew at a very young age that I would one day be a teacher. Influenced by my parents, who were both educators, I developed a passion for teaching early on. One of my fondest childhood memories is “playing school” with my stuffed animals. It’s amazing how well they listened to me and followed directions!
I believe that my desire to be a teacher was truly inherited. My father retired as a math teacher in N.C. after thirty years in a rural high school. In a complete 180, he now teaches in an urban, low-income middle school in Danville, V.A. It has been both intriguing and influential to watch as he has faced new challenges. My mother retired as a school librarian, after working in the same school for thirty-two years. One of the many benefits of my mother being a librarian was she would bring home old books to share with me, and she always knew the “best” books to read. Having a librarian in our family resulted in our home being filled with books. When later moving into a new home, space for a library was a priority. After retirement, she has continued to work with children in reading at a Title I school. I have one older brother, who has also followed the path of education. My brother has been teaching social studies at the high school level for six years. One can imagine the dinner conversations shared around a table of educators.
My career dream was to teach and there would be no settling for less. Knowing the inherent difficulties, struggles, and traditionally lower salary, my parents encouraged me to follow an alternative career path. However persistent, they saw my determination and passion for teaching and are now my greatest supporters.
After graduating from Appalachian State University in 2006 with a bachelor’s degree in education, I was eager to fulfill my career dream. Leaving my options open to teaching jobs, I found myself back home in the piedmont, teaching second graders in a low-income rural area. Mentor teachers always say, that your first year teaching will be one of your hardest but also your best year; I am a true believer. Mid-way through my first year teaching, I began looking to move away from home to be with my boyfriend, in hopes that one day he would become my husband! In the fall of 2007, I began teaching in Gaston County, NC. Growing up and living in a small town, I swore to never live near Charlotte, NC. I learned to “never say never”. Moving to Gaston County, I took a position in fourth grade. Last fall during the economic changes and changes in class size requirements, I was moved back to second grade. The past couple of years have been filled with life lessons and continued learning in my teaching career. I took a leap of faith, following my heart, and relocating to a new area. I have been married to my husband for two years in August, and have a Labrador retriever (our only child at the moment).
Reading has always been a passion of my mine. I remember growing up, learning to read with the classics that my mom would bring home (Clifford, Bernstein Bears, and Corduroy). Some of my favorite teachers were those who would sit us in a circle and read aloud to the class for hours. When I first began teaching, I worked with second grade students teaching them how to read. I enjoyed teaching young minds, watching them develop into successful readers. When I moved up to teaching fourth grade, I quickly became frustrated and puzzled by how and why nine and ten year old students are unable to read!? At that age, I assumed all students knew how to read, and were reading to learn. I quickly realized that there was more to reading than what I had learned during my undergraduate. How could the subject that I enjoyed the most become so frustrating to teach? Determined to overcome my frustration, I began the masters program this past fall. I have gained a new perspective about teaching literacy in my classroom. It is so much more than sitting down with a child and having them read to you a story. I have come to conclude that literacy is a “give and take” type relationship. Even though teachers may transfer knowledge to a child through teaching, writing, and discussion, I have received from the children significant insight and intuition. While working with each unique child, I feel as though I have learned as much I have taught.
Katie Johnson