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New staff at Benton Elementary School
Lesha Franklin, second grade teacher
What inspired you to become a teacher?
I have had some amazing teachers in my time. I was able to learn so much from them. I wanted to be able to do the same. It is incredible to see the growth that takes place in a child in just one year!
What is most challenging in your role and why?
Being a teacher means you have to be able to adapt, be very flexible. There are state curriculum changes, as well as funding changes. Funding changes can make an impact on what materials you have to use with your students. The Internet and all of the low budget ideas are a great resource for teachers! I am fortunate to teach in a district that can provide up-to-date technology for my classroom, as well as, provide training for new things that are valuable to our students.
What teaching moment is most memorable?
There are so many! Nobody told me that Ashland is horrible for traffic those first few days of school. My very first day of teaching, I came be bopping down Ashland at 7:30 a.m. I was super excited. And then I saw that the turning lane for Truman started at Spring Street! I was in line for 30 minutes! I called the secretaries, bawling, "I'm so sorry, I never imagined it would be like this!" Everyone was so great to me. There were a few parents that had wanted my picture with their child. Needless to say, they decided to come back another day after seeing the state I was in. Thank you! The rest of the day was amazing. But, I try to remember that some students have those same kinds of mornings. I can greet them with a smile and kind words, and then move them through their day giving them someone to lean on, if they need it.
Experience
I have always taught in Nevada R-5. I taught for nine years in third grade at Truman. This is my first year in second grade at Benton Elementary.
Education
I spent two years at Fort Scott Community College, earning an associate's degree. Pittsburg State University is where I earned my bachelor's degree.
Hometown
I am from Fort Scott, Kan. I still live in Fort Scott.
Family
My husband is Josh. He works in Kansas City, Mo., doing restoration on old buildings.
Cameron, 15, hopefully he'll get a call back on his first job this week; Courtland-14; Jayden-12; Tanis-6; Henley-3.
Interest/hobbies
I love to READ! I do a lot of gardening. We had a very productive salsa garden this year.
Sara Rainey, teacher
What inspired you to become a teacher?
It was actually my oldest sister who inspired me to look into the field of education as she is also a teacher and loves what she does. Once I got into it, I knew without a doubt that it was what I was meant to do. I had never loved school until I started my education classes because I had finally found something I was completely interested in and wanted to help make a difference.
What is most challenging in your role and why?
Making sure every student succeeds to the best of their ability is most challenging in my role as a teacher, because I do not want to feel failure and I do not want to see any of my students feel it. Every child is different and learns differently. Finding ways that work best for each one to learn and having to differentiate instruction is most challenging, but also the most rewarding when you see them achieve.
What teaching moment is most memorable?
The most memorable teaching moment I have had as a teacher did not happen in the classroom. I had a student one year who was not in my classroom very long and moved away. I never felt I really got to bond with that student because he wasn't in my room but a few short weeks. I was very sad when I heard he had moved, but then months later, when my husband and I were out of town I ran into him and his mom and he came running up to me and gave me the biggest hug I've had. I then realized that I didn't need to get to know everything about him in order to have made a bond. I knew then I made an impression on him. He didn't forget about me like I was afraid he might have.
Experience
This is my sixth year as a classroom teacher. I taught five years in El Dorado Springs as a second grade teacher and this is my first year as a second grade teacher in the Nevada district.
Education
I graduated from Drury University with my bachelor's in elementary education. I am currently working towards my master's degree in literacy with a reading specialist certificate from Missouri State University.
Hometown
El Dorado Springs.
Family
I am married to Taylor Rainey, who is from Nevada, and we currently have one 3-year-old boy and our second baby boy due any day!
Interest/hobbies
My interests include playing with my son, taking walks, and hanging out with my family.