What is your role as an educator and how long have you been doing it for? 

I am a preschool Lead Teacher here in Colorado Springs at our local Head Start organization. My job as a lead teacher is to steer our future generations, making sure that they have social and emotional skills they need to help them in the future. I have taught all ages for about 24 years. 

Why do you feel that what you do as an educator is important? 

I feel that my career as a teacher is essential because we have the opportunity to help the young minds of the future by providing necessary tools they need to be successful in life. 

What do you love most about what you do? 

I love building trusting and positive relationships with the children and their families by doing this we all can have positive interactions. 

It is important to get to know what their likes and dislikes are, and actually connect with them. I strive to let them know that I’m there to support them, and if there’s something wrong they can come to me for help. Also, reminding the children that it’s okay not to be okay. 

What is the best advice you ever received about your impact on education? 

The best advice I ever received is that it is important to know that the parents or guardians are the child’s first teacher. My job is to meet them where they are and expand their child’s growth and development skills. Part of my job is to do home visits prior to school where we have the parents do a questionnaire to really get to know the child. Building those relationships are very important. 

What advice do you have for future generations? 

For this, I’d like to quote Dr. Seuss: 

“Why fit in when you were born to stand out?”

I think our children need to know this quote because they may be trying to be like the people that they see on TV, and I’d like them to know that it’s okay just to be their own, unique selves. 

-Written by Talisa Caldwell 

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Self Submission

I educate children ages 3-5 to emotionally and developmentally prepare them for kindergarten and the world around them.

Recently, I wrote my first children’s book titled Cozy Rosie goes to School to assist children with their first encounter with going to school for the first time.

Building trusting relationships with children and assisting children with managing their feelings a, CPCD Head Start Program