Beachwood City Schools saw dozens of new hires this school year — more than two dozen. Beachwood Patch asked some of the new teachers to tell us a few things about themselves. Look for a new teacher every Friday.
Hilltop Elementary School’s new third grade teacher, Jessica Grabnic, just started her teaching career. She attended Slippery Rock University in Pennsylvania and student taught in Sharon.
1. What’s it like having your own classroom?
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“It is fabulous. The students I have all been wonderful. Everybody has been very helpful.”
2. What is your favorite subject to teach?
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“I think teaching language arts has been the most enjoyable because I get to see a lot of creativity with the kids as far as what pieces they create when they’re writing. It’s so much fun to work with them and it’s a great way to get to know the kids too because they put so much thought into what they write.”
3. What is your favorite part about teaching?
“Seeing the growth and improvement is the most rewarding part. I’ve wanted to be a teacher since third grade because I had a teacher that impacted me greatly. I wanted to pursue a career that impacted people’s lives. I was a very shy kid and she reached out to me and brought me out of my shell in a way. She wouldn’t let me fall in the back drop.”
4. Do you like playing sports?
“I love playing sports, especially volleyball. I high school I was a setter and an outside hitter than in college I just played intramurals.”
5. What has teaching taught you?
“Teaching has definitely taught me to appreciate differences in people. I learn how each child learns and about their learning style. I learn what their strengths are and harness those and help the kids grow through that. Seeing the variety of kids that I have, I learn to appreciate the differences people have.”