It’s hard to believe, but my journey through college is finally coming to an end. I’m currently student teaching in a third-grade class at Mountain Valley, and it has been an absolutely incredible experience. I've learned so much, and it’s been such a fulfilling part of my journey.
When I first started school, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to teach full-time. My focus was just on earning my degree, without much thought about what would come next. But now that I’m finishing up and my kids are older, I’ve realized that teaching full-time is exactly what I want to do.
I applied within the district, and soon after, I got an interview at Falls Valley Elementary. Honestly, this school wasn’t even on my radar. It was farther away from my home, an older, smaller Title I school, and I didn’t think it would be the right fit for me. But I decided to go ahead with the interview anyway, thinking it would be good practice. To my surprise, I felt right at home with the interview panel. Our values and beliefs were so aligned, and I walked out feeling confident and comfortable with the idea of working there—even if it was just for a year or two while I waited for other opportunities.
That night, I got a text from the principal saying she’d like to call me the next morning. When she did, she offered me the job. I was thrilled and honored to receive my first job offer, but I wasn’t ready to commit just yet. I had an interview scheduled with Woodland Hills and had a potential opportunity at Mountain Valley, so I wanted to think things through carefully.
While I was considering the offer from Falls Valley, Woodland Hills called me for an interview for a sixth-grade position. Working at Woodland Hills felt like a dream. It’s just two minutes from my house, is my kids’ school, and it’s a place I’m deeply connected to. In fact, subbing there was what inspired me to go back to school in the first place. I was beyond excited for the interview.
The interview went wonderfully, and to my amazement, they offered me the job on the spot. Without hesitation, I accepted! I am beyond excited to be joining the Woodland Hills team. I feel incredibly blessed that I’ll be teaching sixth grade, which is the perfect balance between elementary and middle school. I’ll be focusing on writing as my core subject, with some social studies and science on the side. It’s a perfect fit for my strengths, and I’m thrilled to work with older students.
I spend a lot of my free time dreaming about my classroom—how I’ll set it up, the lessons I’ll teach, and how I can make the experience as engaging as possible for my students. This opportunity truly feels like an answer to my prayers. Having Kyle with me at the school will make the transition back to full-time work so much smoother. It’s close to home, so I can even go home for lunch, and I already know the people there. It feels like a perfect fit, and I’m filled with gratitude and excitement for this next chapter in my career.
