JSUupLpoIrEt SStaNff O oWf thBe AYeRarGER WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB? What do I not love about my job? I love my administrators that I answer to, I love my coworkers that I spend the majority of my time with, I love my students with every breath that I take, I love seeing a student grasp onto a concept that we have been working on, I love getting up to go to work every morning! WHAT DO YOU WANT STUDENTS TO EXPERIENCE WHILE IN YOUR CLASSROOM? I want them to learn something new every time they walk in the door, no matter how small. I want them to experience the feeling of being in a safe, loving place. I want them to know that we value them and consider them to be the No. 1 reason we are there. HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE NIXA’S SUPPORT STAFF OF THE YEAR? It is the greatest honor that I have ever experienced in my life. Everyone, whether students or adults, wants to be valued for what we do, and receiving the Support Staff of the Year was the fi rst time that anyone has ever shown that to me personally in such a grand way. WHAT’S THE MOST REWARDING THING ABOUT BEING A PARAPROFESSIONAL? Being able to focus on the kids and not paperwork or lesson plans. I decided many years ago to not go back to school to be a teacher on purpose. Although the most important part is not the monetary part of my job, I saw early on that teachers have to do way more than they are compensated for and that is even more so for the administrators and all that they have to deal with. I am very happy and have never regretted that decision. I absolutely love what I do and will be sad when the day comes that I can’t do it anymore. YOU’RE A NEW ADDITION TO THE CRAYON BOX. WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE AND WHY? I would be iridescent because I try to blend in and match the other colors in the box depending on the situation. My color changes with circumstances. YOU’VE BEEN GIVEN AN ELEPHANT. YOU CAN’T GIVE IT AWAY OR SELL IT. WHAT WOULD YOU DO WITH IT? I would name it. Then I would go get another one so that it didn’t feel alone. Finally, I would fi nd a place for them where they would fi t comfortably and not feel confi ned. WHAT INSPIRES YOU? Leadership. Leadership inspires motivation and motivation is what gets things done. If the people who are leading me make me feel valued, then I am going to strive that much more to do a better job, no matter what that might be. PRETEND YOU’RE NIXA’S SUPERINTENDENT. WHAT THREE CONCERNS ABOUT THE DISTRICT’S FUTURE KEEP YOU UP AT NIGHT? Growth with all of the positive and negative things that come along with it. Budget restraints because they affect everything. Facilities and the issues with updating and fairness from building to building. WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE ’90S JAM? Wilson Phillips, “Hold On” YOU CAN BINGE WATCH ONE TV SHOW. WHAT WOULD IT BE? I don’t watch much TV but I could binge watch “Big Bang” or “Mike and Molly.” They make me laugh out loud! 14 THE NEST NIXA PUBLIC SCHOOLS MAGAZINE Summer 2017
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