MADISON COUNTY, ALABAMA, Ala. — One teacher has made the Tennessee Valley her home after moving from Virginia. She’s been a teacher here for more than two months and is already making quite the impression on her students.
Meet this Valley’s Top Teacher, Kelly Baileys from Riverton Elementary School!
“I just, I always knew I wanted to be a teacher. I love it. I love kids. One of my favorite things is when the light bulbs turn on and they and they get something and their eyes get big and it's exciting,” said Baileys.
First-grade teacher Mrs. Kelly Baileys loves what she does because of her connection with kids. “This age, their imagination is still alive. They love it. They love to learn, they're excited about it and they have so much to learn and the growth is incredible. You start with a little acorn and you get a pretty big sized tree at the end of the year,” said Baileys.
She and her husband recently moved from Virginia, taking their talents to the Tennessee Valley. “My husband just retired from active duty Army. So we did that 20 years, and then he got a job down here in Huntsville. So we did one last blind move where you move and you don't know anybody and you just go for the job, and then I got lucky enough to get hired here,” said Baileys.
Baileys says she’s only been teaching for about four years. “I decided to start teaching at the absolute worst time ever. So I started teaching the same year COVID hit. So I have taught in person, online. I've taught where we've got half the kids coming in and half the kids virtual. I love having them all here. This is much better. It is much more fun to have everybody in the classroom.”
“There's been a lot of interesting challenges. I think learning all the tech was huge for me because I'm kind of a dinosaur. So learning to teach virtually a little bit of a Luddite,” added Baileys.
What motivates her to keep going?
"You keep going 'cause you get to know the kids. And you know what they know and what they need to know and you fall in love with them. And then you wake up at three in the morning you're like, 'Oh, I didn't do that right! We could do it this way better!' And your husband's like 'Go back to sleep!' 'You have five kids of your own!'
Do you know someone who should be the Valley's Top Teacher? Nominate them by filling out the form below:
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