Amanda Lanier

I am a current Pre-K teacher at Orangefield Elementary with an engaging nature and enthusiasm for classroom education. I have 19 years of experience in the Pre-K classroom with a goal to fulfill each student's individual learning needs. In August, I will begin my 20th year in education to which I am excited to learn more and grow in new areas. I began my teaching career with my student teaching being done in Pre-K at Orangefield Elementary. I was blessed to have been mentored by the best supervising teacher as well as principal at the time. I was hired in August 2006 by Dr. Larry Haynes and this is where my journey began and has continued until this present day.

I have learned so much over the course of 19 years not only through my coworkers, but through my students and their parents. I believe that being an amazing teacher takes teamwork. Without the help and support of my coworkers and my parents over the past years, I would not be the person that I am today. As teachers, we spend the majority of our time at school, and it is vitally important to build genuine relationships with coworkers, students, and their parents. From the moment we accept a position and walk through those doors, we are a FAMILY. We are there to support, encourage, and challenge each other to be better than we were the day before. My mission as a teacher is to build relationships with my coworkers, my students, and their parents n order to help their child succeed in my classroom. Then, and only then is when learning takes place.

It has been a privilege to have remained at the same school in the same grade for as long as I have had the opportunity to do so. I have a heart for children and helping them find their strengths in order to be the best that they can possibly be. I am motivated to do whatever it takes to meet my goals and their goals as well. I actively involve my students with engaging, hands-on learning experiences to meet their individual needs. I am always observing and trying to find new ways in which to differentiate my instruction. I know that it is important to be a motivated teacher to help foster each child's social, academic, and creative abilities. I am committed to providing my students with a safe and nurturing environment in which to foster those abilities.

I know that I have several skills that I can bring to the table not only as a teacher, but also as a team leader of 13 years. I am very organized when planning my lessons and how my day will look. However, I do know my day will change constantly, and I will have to adapt and change my plans accordingly. One thing that I have learned is to be patient and to be flexible. Have I perfected that? No, I have not, but I am continuing to be my best and do my best every day for my students, their parents, and my team. Over the past three years, I have created our teams lesson plans, monthly calendars and weekly newsletters (the past year) for my team. I have also tried my hardest to lead my team and collaborate with my team to develop a better Pre-K program. I am very loving, nurturing, and supportive. I want my students to know that when they walk into our classroom they are safe and loved. I always explain to them that I am their "teacher," but I am also their "school mama." They know that I want the absolute best for them and that I will love them no matter what. Another skill that I have that I believe is important is open communication with my families. I want them to know that I am here to help their child grow and succeed in the learning process as well as to support them as parents. It is a team effort, and they play a crucial part in their child's learning. I do my very best to keep lines of communication open during the school day as well as after school hours if needed. I also feel that I have great classroom management. If you observed me at the beginning of my teaching career, you would have said, "No, not hardly." But after all the different experiences that I have been through as well as the many people who I have learned from along the way, I have been able to run a successful, managed classroom. I say this to say that without successful classroom behavior management, a child cannot properly learn. This year, I have used a behavior management system that was shared with me from a new person that joined our Pre-K team this year. This has opened my eyes to a new way in which to teach children responsibility and hold them accountable for their actions, as well as the children learning how to help their peers. I cannot begin to explain the benefits this has had developing a more positive classroom community. I have been very blessed this year to learn from one of the best.

I do know that it is never ever to late to start learning and to make a change. With that being said, I know that my experience is strictly in a Pre-K classroom, but I am willing to continue and better myself by making this change. I am ready to go all in, learn new things, accept new challenges, and to continue to be the teacher that I was always meant to be. My prayer is for kids to see my heart and the love that I have for them. I pray every day to be the walking hands and feet of Jesus in whatever way, shape, or form that may be.

Thank you for taking the time to learn a little more about me and for considering me for this job opportunity.

• Bachelor's of Science Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies, Certified EC-4 Generalist, Lamar University, May 2006