School and Community Winter 2024

Nurturing Young Minds and Leading Change: A Day in the Life of Pam Lowe, MSTA State President

BY: LINDSAY JAMES, CREATIVE MEDIA SPECIALIST I n November, Pam Lowe took the stage at the annual Assembly of Delegates and assumed the role of MSTA state president. This yearly passing of the gavel underscores a profound opportunity for an individual to spearhead positive change within the association and the educational community. Lowe brings with her a wealth of experience and enthusiasm for the year ahead. Among her biggest supporters are the 19 young learners who know her simply as “Mrs. Pam.” Preschool education is a crucial phase in a child’s development, laying the foundation for a lifetime of learning. With 27 years of teaching experience (six years in pre-K, 20 in kindergarten and one in fifth grade), Lowe approaches each day at the Sikeston Kindergarten and Early Childhood Education Center with an open mind and determination to help her students succeed.

“It’s always go, go, go,” she chuckles. “We’ve really worked hard on the concept of Strong Start, which goes along with our Teach Like a Champion initiative that the district has implemented. So, when the kids come in at 8:30, they know exactly what to do.” The 4- and 5-year-olds put their folders and backpacks away, eat their breakfast and work on the papers waiting in their cubbies. Some work independently while others turn to Lowe or her teacher’s assistant, Mrs. Addie, for reassurance. By 9 a.m., the classroom is alive with the sound of eager chatter and the pitter-patter of tiny feet. The children, now settled into their routine, transition to engaging activities that foster their creativity and social skills. “When the weather is nice, we get to go outside and then we come in and do the calendar,” Lowe says. Gathered in assigned spots on a colorful rug, the

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