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2009-2010 Teacher of the Year Jena Johnson   Ten school years ago, the Herald interviewed, then brand new teacher, Jena Johnson and noted how she was delighted and amazed to have been able to come back to her hometown and alma mater to teach school...and that she could not believe how quickly five years had passed. Well, almost ten years have passed since then and Jena--now Jena Johnson--has, in the past 15 years collectively, gone from being W-K student...to W-K school teacher...to now W-K Teacher of the Year. The latest, is an honor that humbles her, yet makes her proud. But, as with most of her colleagues, she remembers that she's in this profession not for the honors, but for the rewards it brings in watching her young charges grow and learn...and in knowing she's doing the best she can to get them off on the right foot on the long educational road that still lies ahead. Jena is in her 10th year here, her 11th overall as a teacher, and was recently named Teacher of the Year for W-K. She teaches Kindergarten at W-K Elementary School and in Kindergarten is where she'd love to stay. "Kids this age love school...they're funny...and honest. They tell it like it is. Everything is new and exciting for them." When asked what she pictures herself doing in another ten or fifteen years, she immediately replied, "Teaching Kindergarten. I see myself being a Kindergarten teacher for a long time." And that's probably a good thing for Wabasha-Kellogg and for its' young students. Inspired by teachers like Audrey Funk and Mary Wild, whom she had for Kindergarten and Fourth Grade, the native of Wabasha knew already back then that she wanted to be a teacher. So many teachers do, it seems...It must be a calling they have. "I just wanted to teach for as long as I can remember," she explained. "I had a great experience going to school here and I was glad to come back and work with the people that helped me succeed." Her biggest perk is seeing youngsters develop. "You see the parents and talk to them and I feel happy when I can give them news of their child's (educational) growth. You begin to notice what a difference you are making in their child's lives and it's especially gratifyingto know that the kids like learning and they like being here." And she added, "It's kept me learning and growing as a teacher." |
