School and Community Fall 2022

“Wear comfortable shoes! It’s not about the look, it’s about how comfortable you want to be throughout the day. You’re going to walk a LOT!” — Dagny Ogle, Willard R-2 “Remember we’ve all been through this before. Don’t feel like you’re alone in any situation. Make sure you can rely on your coworkers for help. Don’t feel like you need to do everything yourself. It’s always good to ask someone because you will learn that you are not alone.” — Herb Horseman, Independence 30 “Always be prepared. Come to class every day with a lesson plan in hand, ready to go. It might not work out exactly how you hoped, but at least you’ll have a plan to follow. Spend time building positive relationships with your students and parents. These relationships are what students will remember long past the knowledge that you’ve given them throughout the year.” — Jason, Dieckhoff, Harrisonville R-9 “It’s okay to say NO. If you’re asking to coach, you can say no. If you’re asked to take on a certain project, you can say no. It’s okay.” — Morgan Kirkweg, Eldon R-1

“It’s okay to make mistakes. Nobody is perfect, just like the students in our classrooms who make mistakes and we give them the second and third and fourth chances that they deserve. You also deserve those second and third and fourth chances. Give yourself some grace and just enjoy each day.” — Bergen Toth, Rockwood R-6 “Have a good attitude about yourself! Stay positive about the things you’re doing. Realize that each child has a different background. When you do these things in your life and reflect that positivity to them, it will help a great deal. The first years can be a bit tough, but it’s something you will get through. You’ve gone through four years of college to figure out that this is what you want to do. Kids NEED your positivity and to know that they are loved. You can do this, hang in there. You’re strong and you’ve got this!” — Tamara Metcalf, Hume R-8 “Be flexible and be ready to make changes. Maybe your plans shift or there’s a last-minute assembly that you don’t hear about ahead of time, and that’s okay. It’s not a bad thing to be flexible and roll with the changes.” — Michelle Davis, Otterville R-6

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