Why do you like teaching? I like teaching because I like to spend time with the kids during the day. I like to see you guys make a lot of growth during the school year and I think that's pretty entertaining.

How many years have you been a teacher? I taught for 3 years at Ithaca City schools and this is my 4th year at McGraw and a substitute teacher before that.

What's your favorite subject to teach? Social Studies. I love history.

What is your favorite grade to teach?  My third graders are pretty cool this year but I really like to be in 5th grade.

Why did you decide to be a teacher? So I could be a positive role model to the kids and I can try and teach you guys to be as successful as possible. 

Kaidence Westendorf & Kaleigh Bellrose (5th Grade)

What did you go to college for? Business. But my mom was a teacher. I got inspired and changed carriers.

What do you teach? I teach 7th grade life science, 9th grade physical science, and 10th grade biology.

What do you do during the summer? I work at a summer camp for ages 6-16.

What do you do in your free time? I like to craft and watch movies.

Sydney Morris & Alice Witzgall (4th Grade)

What's your favorite hobby? Spending time with family and gardening when they're busy. 

What's your favorite thing about being a teacher? Seeing the light bulb go on like seeing students get it.

Why did you choose to be a teacher? It kind of chose me. I wanted to be an art teacher. Then my grandfather said that I should just be an elementary teacher so I can use art in lessons as much as possible.

What is your favorite  lesson that you did? The Husky dogsled experiment (Iditarod Dogsled Race) that I did with you when you were in my class.

Jhiana Henriques (5th Grade)

So, why did you want to be a 6th grade teacher? I have always wanted to be a teacher from the time I was a little girl. I always loved helping other people achieve their goals. I remember being in school and struggling with different things and having those really really helpful teachers. That meant a lot to me and I wanted to be that helpful person to somebody else.

What kind of subjects do you teach? I teach English and Science for all of 6th grade. In the past I've done math as well but that was in 4th and 5th grade.

So do you like Science and ELA? I do love Science. Science gives you a lot of chances to be hands-on and handle different materials and do different experiments. It's a lot of fun. There's a lot of cool things you can do.

What made you want to become a teacher? I always loved helping other people. I like helping kids. I like working with kids.

If you didn't teacher anymore what would you do? I would love to be able to do something with horses but working with kids too.

Do you like teaching students? I do. It's a lot of learning but we also have a lot of fun. We get to joke around. I get to learn a lot about them. I try to use my family and my kids in things that I'm teaching and talking about so they get a chance to learn about me as well. 

Kendra Grewe & Lainee Turner (5th Grade)

Why do you like teaching and what is your favorite thing about it? I love teaching because I love watching kids learn. I love watching them learn new things whether it's tying their shoe, learning math, or reading. Watching the kids when they start to understand that new skill is just really really powerful to me.

How many years have you been teaching? At McGraw I've been teaching for 7 years. Before I was at McGraw I was a head start teacher for 6 years. I also did early intervention work with little guys under 3 years old for about 4 years.

Was your classroom always there? No when I first joined McGraw it was a new program that they designed for the needs of our community. So they designed the classroom to best meet their needs

What is your favorite kind of dog besides your dog? I used to have a basset hound and I miss having a dog that can howl.

Why did you start teaching little kids? I started teaching little kids because I have a special person in my life that has a disability. I saw my brother have a hard time in school and I wanted to help kids that were similar to him be more successful in their school careers and life learning.

What other animals do you like I love? Owls I'd really like to have chickens and bees and goats one day my husband says I'm not allowed to have a potbelly pig but I'd like a pig, haha.

Did you pick me to be your classroom helper? No but I'm so happy that somebody did pick you to be my helper. I love getting to know you and I love the relationships that you have made with the kids in my class.

Paityn Young (5th Grade)

Why did you want to become a teacher? I wanted to become a teacher because I love helping kids learn. I had all younger siblings. When covid hit I ended up teaching my brother all of his lessons. They had all online learning. I ended up helping him with all his school work and I was like oh I actually I really like this.

What subject do you want to teach when you become a teacher? Before student teaching I would say Social Studies 100%. But I really like math now. Social Studies or Math.

What's your favorite thing to do outside of school? I love reading. I love books and I like to walk or go hiking. 

What's your favorite animal and your favorite food?  I like sushi. If I can pick a second choice, I really like spaghetti. Any type of pasta. My favorite animal is an elephants. 

What is your biggest strength in teaching? I'm a good talker and I talk loud. I talk a lot. 

What grade do you want to teach? See again this has changed my mind totally. I love preschool and kindergarten. I love the littles. That would probably be my favorite. I would love teaching fifth grader and consider a higher grade.

Mackenzie Jenin & Lainee Turner (5th Grade)

Do you like your class? Yes, I love my class. They talk a lot but very sweet.

What are your classroom rules? Be responsible. Be respectful. Be kind and be safe.

What do you do for fun? Play 20 questions heads up 7up and hang man.

Why did you want to teach? Because I love children and love learning.

Do you love teaching? Yes I love teaching.

Do you have a favorite student? They are all my favorite!

Ginger Hendrickson (3rd Grade)