Ms. Wendy Hendrix was recently honored as the Decatur County District Teacher of the Month for May after being selected as the Parsons Elementary Teacher of the Month for April. In a conversation with Wendy, we asked her about her history, philosophy of teaching, and what she enjoys the most about her profession:
“I graduated from Union University earning a degree in Elementary Education with certification in K-Eighth grade in 1996 and began teaching in the Henderson County School System at Beaver Elementary. I continued my academic endeavors while teaching and earned my Master of Education in Curriculum & Instruction (M.Ed.) from Union University in May 1999. In August 2009, after teaching at Beaver Elementary for twelve years, I moved to the Decatur County School System and began at Parsons Elementary School. In mv twenty-seven years of teaching, I have taught grades from kindergarten through fifth grade covering a variety of subjects and am currently teaching first grade.
Through my years in the classroom, my philosophy of education has really been simple – all students can learn at their own individual pace. As a teacher it is my responsibility to ascertain their individual needs and capabilities as they enter my classroom at the first of each year and encourage them to work hard, while instilling them with the skills they need throughout the year to move them forward to achieve their very best while in my classroom.”
When asked why she chose education and why she continues in the profession she said, “I chose this profession because I love children and I wanted to have an influence in their lives. I want all my students to know they are loved, not only by me, but also by God who created them. I feel if they can leave my classroom feeling loved, prepared, and ready to take the next step up the academic ladder, then I have completed my job. As I tell my students. "God did not create a nobody! Take what you have learned this year, continue to work hard, and reach for the stars.”
“My favorite part of teaching is building relationships with my students and watching them grow and mature academically. I love the excitement on their faces when they begin to read on their own or suddenly grasp a new math skill or science theory they have been struggling to understand. While I enjoy watching my students moving forward academically, it is equally gratifying to me to watch them maturing into responsible, caring, empathetic individuals who are respected and loved by their peers. The hardest part of teaching is having to say good-bye at the end of each year. For the ten months they are in my class we are like a family. We become extremely close, and it is hard for me to let them go.”
We are so proud of Ms. Wendy and glad that she returned home to continue educating the children of Decatur County and for being so dedicated to her students. Thank you to American Fidelity for presenting Wendy with a certificate and gift card.