PIONEER, TN (WLAF) – Elk Valley Elementary School’s Lorena Chambers is WLAF’s teacher of the week.
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Chambers teaches kindergarten at Elk Valley STEM School and is in her twelfth year as an educator. She has spent her entire teaching career teaching kindergarten, with 11 of those 12 years at Elk Valley.
Chambers said she was inspired to teach, because she wants to help children succeed. Her other inspiration was because of the teachers she had when she was in school.
“I remember one teacher I had in the third grade, who would always take time to help students with their learning. I thought she was smart and so kind. I wanted to be like her. Since I don’t have children of my own, being a teacher has helped me with fulfilling my dream to help children learn,” Chambers said.
Her favorite part of her job is when students say they want to be a teacher when they grow up.
“I also, of course like it when the students feel a sense of accomplishment after they have learned a new concept or completed a task they didn’t think they were capable of doing,” Chambers said.
Reading is her favorite subject to teach. “I want children to learn to love to read and all the joy it brings.” She said a positive of teaching this past year has been in seeing how the children have adapted to the hardships.
“They keep me inspired by just doing what needs to be done in the classroom, no matter how difficult and unusual it may be in this pandemic year. Also, having my co-workers to talk to and to lean on for support no matter what we are facing. They are all so dedicated and caring.” (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 05/06/2021-6AM)