Episode 88: First Year Teachers Wrap-Up!

Maggio 9th, 2025 /
Spencer Tuinei /

Sup con il Sup

00:00 / 27:13

Wendy Dau: Welcome everyone to the next episode of Provo City School District’s what’s up with the Sup podcast. I am superintendent Wendy Dau. This week, I am doing one final check-in with the new first year teachers we have been following at Edgemont Elementary. We will talk about how the year has gone, what they have learned, and what they are excited about as they wrap up their first year.

But first, let’s go over our updates in Provo City School District.

Our library system provides families with tools to make informed choices, ensuring that parents can guide their child’s reading experience in the systems parents are able to:
- View our library catalog.
- View your child’s checked out books.
- Restrict your child from checking out specific books, and
- Review the sensitive materials policy and book review process.
Per ulteriori informazioni, visitate il sito web del distretto.

Sul sito web del distretto è possibile consultare una serie di politiche e procedure.
- Andate su provo.edu.
- Cliccare su Politiche, moduli e documenti.
- You can click on Review Draft Policies here to leave your input.

The next school board meeting is on Tuesday, May 13th.
This meeting will be at Shoreline Middle School.
- We will be discussing several policies.
  - We will have a first look at our budget from the 2025 school year and projections for the 2026 school year.
  - We will also be honoring our teachers of the year in a great celebration, so please join us.

Watch for our quarterly newsletter, coming soon to all homes in Provo, and continue watching for my weekly video casts in your email.
Questi video cast sono un luogo in cui è possibile informarsi sulle cose importanti che accadono nel distretto.

I am here with our kindergarten teacher at Edgemont Elementary, Ms. Amezquita. You’re back! Here we are. Third time.

Cecilia Amezquita: Thank you. It’s so exciting.

Wendy Dau: So, school ends in two weeks. How has the end of the school year been going?

Cecilia Amezquita: The end of the school year is going great. Like just noticing all the progress that my students have made thus far.

It’s such a great feeling, and I’m really proud of them, and there is a lot to do at the end of the school year right now. Like a lot of testing, and a lot of like wrapping up projects and yeah, so it’s pretty busy, but it’s going well. It’s going well.

Wendy Dau: So you were talking a little bit earlier about kind of doing a countdown for the kindergartners to summer.

Tell me what you did today with your kindergartners.

Cecilia Amezquita: Yeah, so we’re doing a 10 day countdown to the last day and today we had a ice cream celebration and playing with bubbles during recess, which was really fun.

Wendy Dau: No, they would love that. They did.

Cecilia Amezquita: That’s awesome. They loved it.

Wendy Dau: Awesome. What has been the greatest challenge that you’ve had over the course of the year that maybe you didn’t think was gonna be as hard as it was. ?

Cecilia Amezquita: Oh, good question. So recently, I feel like I’ve been challenged with the fact that I have somewhat of a new student in the class that missed a lot of the school year, and this student didn’t come in knowing a lot of the things that we already covered. Thus far in the school year.

And so it’s just been a little challenging to help catch her up, and just seeing her struggle a lot, and seeing herself be in a different place academically than the other students has been a little hard– because it’s just hard to juggle. Like, what all can I teach her at this point? Or how do I give her extra support when the other students are at a different spot?

So we’ve been getting her like some extra help with some Aides, and I try to give her attention when I can, but it’s been a little challenging.

Wendy Dau: Yeah, that is really hard. You’re just dealing with one student that’s like that. Imagine a kindergarten teacher that might have four or five that are coming in new.

Cecilia Amezquita: Exactly.

Wendy Dau: That could be definitely very challenging. What has been like a surprise success where like you’re like, I had no idea this was gonna be such a big deal, but it is a really big deal and I’m so excited.

Cecilia Amezquita: Yeah, so I’ve been taking some tests recently. I’ve noticed that a couple of students that really struggled with their letter sounds and with blending their sounds to read their– their words are doing such a great job now doing that.

And so it’s really like surprising but also just like really rewarding to see that their hard work has paid off, that my hard work is paying off, and they’re doing great, and I’m just really proud of them. So.

Wendy Dau: And how are they feeling about it? Because when I watch little kids as they learn to read, they get so excited about learning how to do things that they couldn’t do before.

Cecilia Amezquita: Exactly. Yeah. You can just tell in their little faces that they’re happy to be able to read the sentence or read the book. They don’t always say like, I’m doing so much better, but I tell them, do you realize that you’re doing so much better and that you know how to do all these things now that you had a little bit of a hard time with before?

And they’re like, yeah, like, I know how to do it now. So it’s been great.

Wendy Dau: Yeah. That’s awesome. What advice would you give to a teacher who’s going to be starting in the fall that’s gonna be new now that you’ve finished your first year?

Cecilia Amezquita: I would say take it one goal at a time and take it one day at a time.

Because for someone who’s starting out, like there’s just so much to do, especially in the first couple of months of school.

Wendy Dau: Sì.

Cecilia Amezquita: And so it can be really overwhelming if you choose to just overwhelm yourself with it. But if you choose to break it up into smaller goals and tasks, and decide which ones you need to prioritize first, then that can help to make the task less overwhelming.

Wendy Dau: That’s really good advice too, to prioritize. because sometimes we think everything is important and when everything is important, then it’s hard to identify what actually is –so that makes it a little rough. What have you loved most about Edgemont Elementary?

Cecilia Amezquita: Wow. What I love most about Edgemont Elementary is the atmosphere and the attitude that everyone, the students, and the staff have.

I just feel like everyone I run into– even the students, they all seem to be so positive and hardworking. They have positive interactions and they seem to strive to be in a good mood. I just– it is just a really good like atmosphere and place to be.

Wendy Dau: That’s awesome. Yeah. How do your kindergartners feel about going into first grade?

Has that dawned on them yet, that they’re gonna be first graders next year?

Cecilia Amezquita: Yes. They’re excited. We talk about it all the time, especially because we’ve been doing a count down for a while now of how many days of school we have left, and so all the time they tell me, oh my gosh, we only have this many days left.

And I’m like, yes. You’re so close to being first graders. I was like, do you feel like you’re ready? And some of them will be like, yes, we’re ready. And others will be like, oh, I don’t know. And I’m like, yes you are.

Wendy Dau: Yes, you’re, you’re totally ready.

Cecilia Amezquita: You’ve been practicing every single day. You are ready. And I was like, look at all the things you can do.

And so they’re pretty excited.

Wendy Dau: That’s awesome. Yeah. It’s really fun when you say goodbye to them and you can say, bye first graders!

Cecilia Amezquita: Oh yeah. It’s gonna be so sad.

Wendy Dau: It’ll also be really sad. They’re gonna cry. They’ll, there’ll be a lot of tears.

Cecilia Amezquita: Yes. I lost one student yesterday. He, he moved schools. He went to a different state and so it was pretty sad, but–

Wendy Dau: Oh, that’s hard.

Cecilia Amezquita: Yeah, he’s gonna be great.

Wendy Dau: Oh wow. That is rough. Because you’d build those relationships, they become so important. It’s like your little family right at school.

Cecilia Amezquita: For sure. It feels like that. Yeah.

Wendy Dau: Mm-hmm. How do you think your kindergartners would describe you? As a teacher.

Cecilia Amezquita: Ooh. They would say that I’m really nice to them.

Yes, they would say that, but that I have a lot of rules.

Wendy Dau: Oh, well that’s good. Good.

Cecilia Amezquita: Yes. Yeah. I, I honestly– I try to help them to follow the rules and if they’re not following them, then we might have consequences. So they might tell you that there’s consequences. Like just behavior, things that are gonna help them to follow the rules.

Or they might say that we like to have fun. Whether it’s like getting a reward for the whole class, like sometimes a painting party or a celebration or ice cream celebration, or we like to like learn and play games. They’ve recently been doing 3D Shapes with Play-Doh and toothpick. That’s been really fun.

Wendy Dau: Oh, seems really fun. What’s been your favorite thing to teach? Do you love the math part? Do you love the reading part? Do you love all of it? What do you love the most?

Cecilia Amezquita: I’ve really enjoyed teaching the 95% Phonics Program. So I would say, I guess that’s like reading and a little bit of writing and just figuring out how like their letter sounds.

They can blend it and learn how to read, but that’s been really fun. And also it just feels really good to see their progress day by day, and noticing throughout the months how much progress they were making in like little by little they were able to learn how to read, and write.

Wendy Dau: That’s pretty great. So they come into kindergarten and you’re teaching them sounds of the letters.

Cecilia Amezquita: Yes. And by the time that they’re leaving, they’re reading some words. Yes, by the end.

Wendy Dau: And I think that’s what people don’t realize is that by the end of kindergarten, they’re starting to read. And that’s very cool.

Cecilia Amezquita: Yeah. They can read quite a few sentences. Some of them can read books.

Wendy Dau: Oh, that’s so great.

Cecilia Amezquita: Yes. And a few months ago we were working on informative writing, and I had almost a whole class writing like four sentences, like facts, information.

Wendy Dau: Wow. That’s great. That’s incredible. And that writing piece is really important. As you’re teaching them how to read, what is the best part about being a teacher?

Cecilia Amezquita: The students. The students are the best part. I– I love every single one of my students and they’re also special, and unique, and they’re just so happy and lovable. And I’m gonna miss them a lot.

Wendy Dau: You’re gonna miss them, but are you excited to come back next year?

Cecilia Amezquita: Yes, I’m excited. Yes. And I’m excited for my new students too.

Wendy Dau: Good. What is one thing as you’re going into the next school year, that from this year that you’re already saying, I think I wanna change this for next year. I want to start off having even more clear expectations and ways to redirect behavior when they’re not following those expectations.

Cecilia Amezquita: I feel like this year I started off with some, but sometimes I was flexible with them, or sometimes I didn’t have enough expectations and like rules and set procedures.

And so next year, I know exactly what kind of procedures I wanna have, expectations, consequences, or like, redirection for when they don’t follow those. And so now I know exactly what I’m gonna have for next year. So I think it’s gonna help their behavior be even better. And they’re gonna get on track.

Really quick. Right.

Wendy Dau: And then that just allows for more of that learning. More– more learning.

Yes. Yes! Finish each other’s sentences. That’s awesome. Anything else you would like to share as you’re finishing up your first year?

Cecilia Amezquita: Yes, I would love to just– say that I’m really grateful to have the opportunity to be a teacher.

Oh, it definitely comes with, you know, sometimes it’s challenges, or, you know, putting in a lot of effort, but it’s just so rewarding to work with students to see their progress, to have them tell you that they– you mean a lot to them. And just to see them grow little by little academically and like even physically.

I do love my job. I’m really grateful for it, and I’m just really grateful to work at such a wonderful school, like the administration, my coworkers, my team, the students. It’s just a great place to be, and I’m feeling really grateful for it.

Wendy Dau: That’s awesome. Well, we are very grateful for you. Thanks. And Provo City School District and here at Edgemont Elementary.

Cecilia Amezquita: Thank you. Thank you. Thanks so much. Yay!

Wendy Dau: Yay!

So I am here with Janessa Castaneda. She is a fifth grade teacher at Edgemont Elementary. As you’re coming to the end of the school year, how are you feeling?

Janessa Castaneda: I would say I’m proud of myself and my kids for how far we’ve come from the end of the year being like, I don’t know how to set up a classroom.

I don’t know how to do this, to be like, oh gosh, like I can do this. But also mixed emotions is like, I’m– I’m gonna miss these guys. I mean, they’re in the same building. But it’s– they’re not mine anymore. So lots of mixed emotions there.

Wendy Dau: Yeah, that makes sense. What have you been most excited about in terms of what they have learned, where you’ve seen like just tremendous amounts of growth and progress?

Janessa Castaneda: I would say probably where we’ve seen their test scores and say, okay, this is the area we can– we can work on. We can take what we have and keep building upon it. And then seeing these like most recent scores and like– oh my gosh. Like you knocked that out of the park.

Wendy Dau: Oh, that’s so great.

Janessa Castaneda: Like a child that’s like, this is like, geometry was so hard for her.

And she goes, I’m trying really hard. And I saw her scores. I was like, you are incredible. Like you’re, you tried so hard and she put in so much extra work into it. And so just seeing how dedicated they’ve been to their learning and just being like, oh my gosh. Like, yes, I helped you. But really it was them taking the initiative.

And the autonomy and seeing them grow that way has been really incredible.

Wendy Dau: That’s pretty great that kids are taking ownership of their own learning. And they’re excited about it. When they can do something and they can do something hard, like that’s really great. What are the feelings that you have about Edgemont itself?

How are you feeling about the support that you’ve gotten here at the school? What does that look like?

Janessa Castaneda: I would say things with Edgemont is just a community sense between teachers, like even in between grades. Like I never really go down to the other end of the hallway, but whenever I do, they’re like, oh, how are you doing?

How’s your day going? Like, anything I can help you with? And just seeing that camaraderie throughout the building. Like even though we might not have a lot of face-to-face time with each other, people are still checking in and making sure like everybody’s okay, everybody’s doing good. And inside just sink again, that spirit of camaraderie and community.

Wendy Dau: That’s good. How does it work with your grade level team? Do you feel like that’s been helpful or talk a little bit about how that works with your collaboration there?

Janessa Castaneda: I truly hit the jackpot with them. Oh yes, they have been absolutely so incredible. I just remember. Coming in, I was like, you guys, I’m a new teacher.

I’m so sorry. I’ll make mistakes. And they’re just like open arms, like, you know, we’ve all been there. We had experiences, you know, we can help you learn. And just, they’ve been absolutely incredible between being like, does this worksheet look good? To being like, oh, I see like your students are having a struggle with this mineare too.

What if we collaborate on this and figure out a good strategy or good activity for them to learn? And so just learning from their wealth of knowledge and their compassion and their patience with me and with each other has been absolutely amazing, and so truly the best team ever.

Wendy Dau: That’s awesome. Well, and the ability to learn from each other, like even teachers that have been doing this a while, every educator still knows, so we don’t have this all figured out. It won’t matter how many years you teach, you keep learning.

Tell me what has been one of the greatest challenges that you’ve had this year that either you were anticipating and you’re like, yep, I knew that was gonna be a challenge.

Or maybe even something that you weren’t sure was gonna be a challenge. And you’re a little surprised about.

Janessa Castaneda: I think I’ve touched on this maybe in the past, but some of the behavior stuff, like they warn you, they’re like, you’re gonna see kids like shove, or you’re gonna– you’re gonna see them try to cheat, you know, behind the watch for that.

But other things that have happened, I’m like, why are your hands wet? Like, what, why does that happen here? What just happen? Like we, it’s how– and so just like the most random behaviors, and they’re not even that like big, but they, they seem to happen a lot sometimes like some days. Maybe I full moons, who knows?

Yes. I’m like, they seem to happen like one after another. That’s been crazy navigating that.

Wendy Dau: Yeah. I think that’s a challenge even for really experienced teachers too. I think some of the behaviors that we’re seeing are very different than what we have in the past, and so just know you’re not alone. I hear this all the time, so it’s okay.

Janessa Castaneda: That’s the most comforting phrase. You’re not alone, or, oh my gosh, I had that too. It’s just like, okay, it’s not just me. Like–

Wendy Dau: nope!

Janessa Castaneda: Knowing that we’re in it together and figuring it out together, honestly, is such a great feeling. Which, you know, you wanna be on top of it. You wanna say, oh, I know this, I got this.

But just having that learning experience together be like, okay, like I’m not alone. We can figure this out. It’ll be okay– is the best thing.

Wendy Dau: Absolutely. And it will– you’ll just get these curve balls thrown at you and it’s okay. It’ll keep happening. You’ll just get more chill about it. You’ll be like, oh, that’s new.

Okay, well this is– I’m gonna try this. Here we go. Mm-hmm. Who else has experienced this? Maybe I could get some help with that, like–

Janessa Castaneda: Mm-hmm. Absolutely. Yeah.

Wendy Dau: Tell me what has been a huge celebration or something that just, you’re like, this has been the best part about being a teacher.

Janessa Castaneda: I would say their relationship with the kids.

Sometimes some of them come really easy, some of them take a little more effort to work and build on, but just seeing them come in and be like, oh my gosh, Ms. Castaneda, guess what I did this weekend? And I’m like, what’d you do? And like, they’ll tell me about that. I was say, you know what I did? I saw someone who, that was you and I went up and hugged them and it wasn’t you.

And I’m like, let’s not hug strangers. But the fact that they’re looking for me? They were so excited to see me that they hugged a random person that wasn’t me. I love it. But just having that relationship with them and them feeling comfortable to be like, oh yeah, like I’m doing this this weekend, or I’ve had these new shoes.

What do you think about them? And just seeing them as like, not even students, like people, I think that has been one of the most rewarding things and seeing again, how they’ve grown. Like being able to work on things that are hard and not instantly rewarding has been a struggle. And so just seeing them be able to do that has been incredible in different areas, in their interests that they’ve grown in.

Wendy Dau: As you’re exiting your first year of teaching, what are thoughts that you wanna share with others about the teaching profession? Because I wanna hear from your perspective, after doing this for a whole year, what are your feelings and thoughts?

Janessa Castaneda: It’s hard. People say, you’re just like glorified babysitter. You have summers off. And I’m like, you don’t understand. You don’t understand.

Wendy Dau: You have no idea.

Janessa Castaneda: Yeah, it can be really hard. And you come in, you’re like, I had this great plan. This is gonna work out great. The kids are gonna love it. Five minutes in, they hate it, it’s not going well. And I’m like, okay, we gotta change gears.

And so you have to constantly be able to think on your feet. And I feel like sometimes teachers get, again, kinda put in this box of like, oh, you’re just like for fun time. You’re just, it’s not that hard. You’re just watching them and it’s like, no, you have to like constantly be adapting. You have so many other students to think of, and to make so many like split decisions that can affect the whole class.

So I think teachers being recognized for the problem solvers that they are, the hard workers that they are, needs to be addressed a little more. I also think sometimes people feel like educators have all this support, and we do have a ton of support in terms of like from district, from admin, from our teams.

But it’s like, again, there’s so many things happening in one minute of one day, that is like, people are like, they don’t need more money. They don’t need this stipend or whatever. And it’s like, actually–

Wendy Dau: we do actually.

Janessa Castaneda: I know. Like, I mean, yeah, that kind of support. Just keeping those things in mind and saying like, if you want an inside to classroom, come on in.

Wendy Dau: Sì.

Janessa Castaneda: We love volunteers. If you wanna get a taste of what it’s like, you’re welcome to my class. Anytime. Anytime.

Wendy Dau: I would love for you to come in when you tell me that I don’t deserve more money.

Janessa Castaneda: Exactly.

Wendy Dau: And just experience a whole day in my classroom. That would be fantastic.

Janessa Castaneda: Like jury duty.

Wendy Dau: Yeah, that’s a great idea. I love that suggestion. I was reading this thing on Facebook, and they were saying if you could go back and tell your first year teacher self.

Janessa Castaneda: Okay, it’s four.

Wendy Dau: That’s totally fine. It’s okay. It will get done.

Janessa Castaneda: Three or four words, it will get done.

Wendy Dau: Oh, that is great. I love it. It does get done.

Janessa Castaneda: It does get done. You’ll find the time, you’ll find the energy to do it, the space to do it, the resource to do it, it will get done.

Wendy Dau: It will get done. And sometimes you’re just prioritizing, and you’re realizing this thing that you thought was really important, you start to figure out that isn’t as important.

Janessa Castaneda: Absolutely. You’ll get the important stuff done. Mm-hmm. That will happen.

Wendy Dau: That’s such good advice. I love it so much.

Janessa Castaneda: Thank you. Yeah. Sorry, four words, but–

Wendy Dau: Okay. No, that’s great. I love it. What activities do you have planned between now and the end of the school year?

Is there anything or you just down to the wire. We have got still so much learning to do.

Janessa Castaneda: Well, there’s so many things I can learn. I think a lot of cool science projects.

Wendy Dau: Oh good.

Janessa Castaneda: Like things that we might have quickly covered during the year, like we covered it. But I’m like, okay, this project is a really cool way to combine these two different ideas.

And so just looking for different projects the kids can like collaborate on and work on, I think things we can take a little more time on to cover. And right now they’re doing this big project called a wax museum where they like study something from history, and they have to present on them. And seeing who the kids picked is so interesting– like, insights and their personalities? Like– like whether it’s a sports star, a famous historian, a president, and so I’m excited to see what the kids produce that way.

Wendy Dau: Oh, that sounds really fun. What are your awesome summer plans so that you can rejuvenate as you’re coming into the next school year?

Janessa Castaneda: I might disappoint you but nothing too crazy. I’m like–

Wendy Dau: Non c'è problema.

Janessa Castaneda: I have my book club all lined up.

Wendy Dau: Oh, bene.

Janessa Castaneda: I have lot of books ready to go.

Wendy Dau: Bene.

Janessa Castaneda: Lots of hikes. My hiking group– is just– getting active now and honestly, just going home. I’m from Oregon, so can’t really go for the weekends, but going home and spending time with my family.

I’m really excited for that. So it’s gonna be a little more of a chill summer, but still very nice. Just as relaxing.

Wendy Dau: You need, you need a chill summer, for sure. Are there any shout outs that you have or anybody that you just want to just make sure that you let them know that thank you for helping you?

Or just people that have been an example to you or mm-hmm. Anyone that you wanna shout out?

Janessa Castaneda: I would say, again, my whole team. I really couldn’t have done without them. They were so incredible, so pivotal whenever I came with them with any concerns, like, we’ll figure this out. It’s okay. And they were so happy to share resources and everything, so that’s been incredible.

The janitorial staff and the secretaries do not get acknowledged enough. Oh, they do– have done like so much. I’m like, I’m so sorry. I need help with this. And they’re like, oh yeah, we got this. Like, oh, we’ll do this or organize this. I’m like, Nick, I’m so sorry. We’re outta a paper towel. This is like a 9 1 1 emergency.

We have an art project in here. He’s like up right here.

Wendy Dau: And so paper towels are important.

Janessa Castaneda: They’re very important. Yes. It was like, we need the, or like the Social Worker, Sarah Thompson. She is absolutely incredible, but she sees several students on the building. I watch her and she just has always like one or two with her at all times and she’s just so good at connecting with them and helping them figure out strategies to help them to be able to like emotionally regulate and just, you know, make it through the day.

And so she’s absolutely incredible.

Wendy Dau: That’s awesome. Any last parting thoughts that you wanna share about just teaching in general or just your experience or just–

Janessa Castaneda: Kind of circling back to my four words. It will get done. I just remember at different points I was like. What am I doing? Like, am I doing this right?

Like, am I, am I ruining the future? Like–

Wendy Dau: You’re not ruining the future. Oh, dear.

Janessa Castaneda: But if you’re not worried about it, I’m like, you’re not great. That’s not good.

Wendy Dau: If you’re not worried about it. If you’re not worried about it. Yeah.

Janessa Castaneda: But I’m like, take a breath. It’ll all be okay. Whether you’re at the beginning of the year trying to figure out how to set up your classroom, how to organize 30 students into one room, or at the end of the year trying to figure out, okay, they got this project done way faster than I thought. What can I do to fill this time?

Just making sure to take the breaths that you need to get it done. We put a lot of– as we rightfully should– on making sure the students are okay, that they’re emotionally regulating, and doing okay, but also like making sure to do check-ins with yourself.

That’s right, because if you’re not okay, the kids pick up on that, you’re maybe not as teaching as well. So just making sure that you’re also a priority and that you’re at your best so that you can give them your best.

Wendy Dau: Oh my gosh. That’s like the best advice ever. That was fantastic. I couldn’t have scripted that better.

That was awesome.

Janessa Castaneda: Thank you. Appreciate it.

Wendy Dau: You’re amazing.

Janessa Castaneda: Yay!

Wendy Dau: Thank you. We’re so excited to have you here in — in Provo City School District.

Janessa Castaneda: All right. Thank you.

Wendy Dau: So I am here with Harmony Kartchner. She’s the Principal at Edgemont Elementary. Thank you for being–

Harmony Kartchner: Thanks for coming. It’s good to see you.

Wendy Dau: Yes. I love it. So we’re interviewing a couple of your first year teachers that are just finishing up– Ms. Amezquita and Ms. Castaneda. Tell us a little bit about what your impression has been of these two teachers.

Harmony Kartchner: So they are amazing. We struck gold when we hired those two ladies. And. I forget sometimes that they’re first year teachers.

Wendy Dau: Sì.

Harmony Kartchner: Because they have that teacher with Itness. They care deeply about their students. They work really well with their teams. They take initiative. They’re just super good team members here for our school at Edgemont. And we just are so happy that they’re here. Parents have loved them.

Wendy Dau: Oh yes!

Harmony Kartchner: And are requesting kids to be in their classes.

Wendy Dau: Oh, I love hearing that.

Harmony Kartchner: And so they just have been a real blessing to our school and– and get the mission of and vision of Edgemont and, we’re just so happy that they’re here, so I’m glad you got to experience–

Wendy Dau: Sì!

Harmony Kartchner: Getting to know them a little better.

Wendy Dau: When I talked with them, I said, what are your favoritest things or things that you wanna share or shout outs to people?

And she’s like, my administration, my team, my coworkers, our coach. Like it’s just a great culture and a great place to work. So that’s a huge tribute.

Harmony Kartchner: I’m happy to hear that.

Wendy Dau: Yeah, no, it’s awesome.

Harmony Kartchner: It’s a good team, a good place to be and yeah. Good vibes.

Wendy Dau: Yeah, and she just talked a lot about her students and just, you can tell that’s the focus of what — what they do. Like they’re planning everything around what the students need.

Harmony Kartchner: Yes, yes. And I’ve even seen each of them differentiate for their different students. So they keep in mind they have students who might need a little extra support, and then they have students who may need some extensions.

And I guess that speaks to their level of maturity as an educator, even as a first year teacher, that they’re considering that. Because usually as a first year teacher, you’re just trying to hang on. Yes. And get through ,and then figure you’re trying to figure things out. But they just came very ready to teach and, and very prepared.

And you can tell that their focus is on student learning and making sure every single one of their students succeed in school.

Wendy Dau: Yeah. They’re so positive. Positive, they’re so happy, happy, positive. I’m just like, oh, I just wanna capture that energy. Yeah.

Harmony Kartchner: There’s just like a ray of sunshine, right? You’re like, let us infuse everyone with this awesomeness.

Yes. It reminds us of how, you know, our beginning of our– yeah. It’s fun to see that enthusiasm for teaching, and it does spark that fire in everybody again of, of why we do what we do.

Wendy Dau: That’s right. Mm-hmm. They talked about being just really grateful for being able to be a teacher. And I thought about that a lot.

Like I think sometimes we get caught up in all of the things that are happening to us, for sure. They just kept mentioning all of the things that were so– and they described it as an opportunity.

Harmony Kartchner: Oh.

Wendy Dau: Which I thought was fantastic–

Harmony Kartchner: And that, that defines them, that I would say, that defines them as people and how they view education, and teaching and, and their peers.

They do see it as an opportunity, and an opportunity to make a difference in kids’ lives, and we just feel really privileged to have them here at Edgemont. It’s, it’s refreshing to see them entering the teaching profession when sometimes teaching gets, you know, a– a bad rap, but to see them come and really be here, ready to help students.

Wendy Dau: Yeah, they really are focused on that.

Harmony Kartchner: It’s been really great.

Wendy Dau: What would be some of the characteristics they have that you would want to share with others? These are characteristics that we need, and not even just a first year teacher, but in people who are entering this profession. because there’s things that they do that are that, you– you just notice of your great teachers across the board.

They do, they have those things kind of–

Harmony Kartchner: They do, and sometimes they don’t even know that they have it, right?

Wendy Dau: No, they don’t. They don’t.

Harmony Kartchner: And sometimes they practice and they–

Wendy Dau: Esatto.

Harmony Kartchner: And they get because you can improve.

Wendy Dau: Right? Absolutely. We can all improve our practice. Absolutely.

Harmony Kartchner: Absolutely. And so one thing, like you mentioned, they’re super positive, they have a lot of resilience when things get tough. I noticed they’re problem solvers.

If there’s something that’s a challenge, they always come with a solution too, or an idea, or they approach things as, how would you recommend that I– I do this? You know, what– what are some ideas I can do to help this student or to– to help make my lesson more engaging or to help, you know, do this? So it’s always an approach of wanting to grow that growth mindset.

That they put their students first, they come to their teams prepared and ready for their, you know, they support and embrace the PLC process. I can just keep going on and on and on, but I, those are all qualities that I, I see that they see each student as an individual that they wanna get them where they can so that they are ready for their next grade, for their next life.

They don’t just see it as, I just have to teach my curriculum, but we– these are all my students and I really want them to be successful beyond my grade level.

Wendy Dau: That’s awesome. And they see themselves as part of a team.

Harmony Kartchner: They do.

Wendy Dau: They really see themselves as part of the culture. It’s not just about them.

Harmony Kartchner: They’re not islands.

Wendy Dau: They’re definitely, they’re not, so.

Harmony Kartchner: Yeah, they see themselves as a bigger part of our whole Edgemont community.

Wendy Dau: No, it’s awesome. You’re so lucky to have them.

Harmony Kartchner: I feel lucky. Lucky.

Wendy Dau: But they’re, but they’re lucky to have you too, so it’s fantastic. So it’s been fun. It’s fun– fun to follow them.

Quindi.

Harmony Kartchner: Well, I appreciate you doing that. That’s a fun activity they got to participate in.

Wendy Dau: So yeah, super. Great. Thank you, Harmony! Appreciate it.

Harmony Kartchner: Thanks.

Wendy Dau: Thank you for joining me for this week’s episode of What’s Up With the Sup. As always, all episodes will be posted on the district website, YouTube, and anywhere you get your podcasts.

If you have any topics or questions you would like us to discuss on the podcast, please email us at podcast@provo.edu. And don’t forget to join us again next week for another great episode of What’s Up With the Sup. Have a great weekend everyone.