Brooks Hill Elementary School math coach Josie Keller started her career at the school as a student teacher. She is featured in this week's teacher profile.
How and why you decided to become an educator?
“My dad was a teacher and I always wanted to become a teacher. I loved teaching neighborhood kids at summer camps and town park programs in East Rochester. I loved kids even as a kid myself. I tried to not be a teacher and go into business administration but luckily quickly switched back to what I had a passion for.”
What’s your favorite thing about your job?
“It’s hard to pick a favorite, but my biggest goal for kids is to have them become thinkers and problem solvers. I work with children who struggle with math so it has to be fun and has to make sense. I really need to have them have an understanding so its tricky, but I love it. When it clicks, it makes a lot of sense and it’s fun for them.”
What are the greatest challenges in education today?
“I think for my position it’s technology only for the fact that so many tools can do the job for them and they are not becoming the thinkers that we need. That is really something we focus on: How can you figure out the problem. We give them strategies because we don’t want them to rely on the calculator.
What advice would you give to an aspiring teacher?
“You must love what you do. Celebrate each day with your students. My daughter is pursuing a degree in secondary math education because she sees my enthusiasm for teaching even after 26 years. My students make me want to come to work each and everyday.”
What’s it like having done your student teaching here?
“It was wonderful, I student taught with Cheryl Wagner at the time, then I came back and got a kindergarten position. I feel the building is part of who I’ve become as a teacher. I love it here. It is fun to think back to my first class, they’re all graduated and married with kids, it’s fun to see them out and about and they still remember you.”
Nominate an educator: Do you know a teacher who deserves to be profiled? Contact dgoldman@messengerpostmedia.com.
