Grade 2 Teacher: Kelsey

Kelsey is a teacher in her fifties nearing retirement. As a true educator, she is filled with a sense of dedication and commitment to her job. Her many years of work in the public schools has given her a collection of stories which she can relate about the horrors of poverty, violence or abuse in her students' homes, and some of the families' brushes with the law. Kelsey smiles, although she does not outwardly express her opinions when she tells the story of the mother who was arrested in a drug bust, but claimed she had no idea what was in the bag she was delivering. She continually asks the tough "why" questions, but says she knows the answers.

When questioned about the frequent curriculum changes and how she copes, she replies that basically she does what she knows works, although sometimes it is more good luck than good management. She values her own hard work and recognizes that this serves as the basis for her decision-making when it comes to school practices.

For Kelsey, she sees good teaching as requiring much student practise of what the teacher has said or demonstrated. The back closet in her classroom has boxes organized with materials for monthly themes. Her classroom activities often showcase her artistic talents and students seem to appreciate the time she spends on art activities and decorating her classroom.