Wlaf1450By Charlotte Underwood
HABERSHAM, TN (WLAF) – Wynn Elementary School’s Jaime Walden is WLAF’s teacher of the week.
Walden teaches kindergarten and just finished her 20th year of teaching. She said she has been “blessed to teach at the same school the entire time”. She taught first grade and Reading Recovery for six years and has spent the other 14 years as a Kindergarten teacher.
Walden said she wanted to be a teacher for as long as she could remember, but it was a special social studies teacher that helped inspire her own career in teaching.
“I went to school through the 6th grade in Ohio. I had an amazing teacher in 5th grade, Mr. Fleck. He taught social studies and his was my favorite class of the day. He made learning fun. We got to re-enact important parts of history. He brought it to life. We also knew that he cared about us and would be there for us, no matter what. I have admired him my whole life,” Walden said.
Her favorite part of the job is the connections and relationships she makes with the students.
“It is important to me that they know they are safe in my classroom and that they are loved. I love watching them grow up and seeing what they accomplish in their lives. I love going to their high school graduations and hearing what they will do after high school,” Walden said.
Another favorite part of her job is teaching reading.
“I love it when they read their first book and I can say, “You’re a reader!” Watching their faces light up when they realize they really read a book is an amazing feeling I never get tired of,” Walden said.
While the past school year has been hectic with all the changes wrought by the pandemic, there have been many positives, according to Walden.
“My students were overcomers. They all worked so hard to learn and made so much progress. They took everything in stride and made the best of the situation, in spite of COVID-19. Overall, the parents were amazing to work with and so patient. I appreciate them trusting me with their children.”
Walden also said her coworkers made a great team “My co-workers were phenomenal. Every person here has worked together to make a challenging year easier.” (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 05/27/2021-6AM)