From the time I was a kid, I was taking on the role of “teacher.” From working as a nanny full-time in the summers to tutoring others in the Fine Arts department in college, I got an early start. While I did not choose the education path in college, I have taken my own approach to learning how to teach through various jobs and roles I’ve been assigned. I enjoyed helping with the First Sundays program and teaching homeschoolers, after school programs and summer camps at Hunter Museum of Art in Chattanooga, as well as volunteering to help grow the vibrant arts scene in my hometown.
One thing I’ve learned as a teacher is to listen to my students. It’s a conversation, not a lecture. Sometimes, a plan has to go in a completely different direction based on a student’s mood or interests for the day. Often, we stay the course in order to achieve a task or a goal, but I am sensitive to students when that need is more pressing. I’ve learned the importance of delegating through helping design and build sets for theatrical productions . Helping with local theatre, I’m often surrounded by kids of all ages and abilities. But I find a job for everyone! Working with kids has been one of the true joys in my life, and I plan to never stop!
Stephanie Hardin 