(Andrea Hardison, an elementary school teacher, finds joy in teaching her students.)
photo submitted
Becoming a teacher was all Andrea Hardison ever dreamed of doing. With a mother and aunt who are educators, it seemed natural for Andrea to follow suit. Her very first students in her classroom were Cabbage Patch Kid dolls and Barbies. As soon as she was old enough, Andrea started babysitting and helping with the younger children in Sunday school at church. Because she had a mother who was a high school English teacher, she wasn’t going into teaching with blinders on.
Teachers are leaving the profession in record numbers, especially since governmental bureaucracy dictates so much of what happens in the classroom. Lawmakers, who have no experience in the classroom, are making decisions that directly impact the classroom and students. However, Andrea tries to focus on her own classroom and find joy in the students.
One of Andrea’s favorite aspects of teaching is watching the “lightbulb moment” when students understand a new concept or skill. She has now been teaching long enough to enjoy another fun aspect of teaching. She has the pleasure of teaching the children of some of her early former students. Watching them grow and learn has been more fulfilling than she ever imagined. Andrea, who is currently teaching second grade, feels very blessed to have been able to teach at Cornersville Elementary for the last 26 years.
