May is National Teacher Appreciation Month, and we would like to use this opportunity to thank our educators. Every week in May, we will shine a light on an educator from a different corner of our organization, who is working in a critical capacity to help our students achieve their full potential. This week we shine the spotlight on Jessica Roman.
As an assistant teacher in an early childhood classroom, Jessica helps kids ages 2-4 get ready for kindergarten. This work develops toddlers’ motor skills and provides early classroom socialization. For Jessica, the social-emotional component is key to her students’ success.
“There are tools that we instill in our kids. If they are upset, I ask them to use their words,” she said. “I will say, ‘I’m feeling frustrated.’ ‘I think I need to take a deep breathe’ or ‘I need to take a walk.’” She teaches her students by leading through example.
“Teaching is giving kids the power and confidence to express themselves,” she said. “You have to remind them we are all continuously growing.”
Jessica is giving back the support she received from her kindergarten teacher, whose name she still knows to this day. She remembers not wanting to part with her mother on the first day of kindergarten, but her teacher eased her anxiety.
“She provided a sense of comfort,” said Jessica. “The next day I was ready to go back to school.” That solidified things early on for her. In pursuing a career as an early childhood educator, she wanted to provide a similar sense of ease and support.
“I want to have that lasting impression on my kids. I want them to look back and think preschool was fun.”
Jessica and her team in the purple classroom at Milbank work to make sure their students have fun, while also learning about the world around them. Through a science curriculum, they engage their students with activities like butterfly observations, which students track in their science journals. It’s not only a treat for her students, but for Jessica as well.
“Having a great foundation, great coworkers and supervisors help us tremendously. I come in positive. I come in happy. That helps me do my job well.”
