Leigh Moore
As she starts off her eleventh year of teaching, second grade teacher Leigh Moore continues to work towards giving her students as normal a year as possible.
Moore has taught fourth, third, and now second grade, and having grown up in a home-daycare and around kids her whole life, she said she always knew that teaching elementary would be something she would do.
Now, Moore continues to enjoy her job as she connects with her students on a daily basis.
We’re about two months into the school year, how has it been so far?
This year has been a complete change from last year. It has been a complete relief. It has been really smooth. Things have gone very well. It’s been super nice having a smaller class size this year.
So compared to this time last year in dealing with the pandemic and things kind of calming down now, how has the start of this year been?
A lot easier than last year. Last year was pretty tough to get through with keeping the kids pretty separated and isolated just to our own classroom. This year, we get to actually venture out and play with other classes and they get to mingle with the others. It’s a lot more, um, satisfying for them.
What are some things you’re looking forward to for this school year?
To make it more, as normal as possible. Give these kids more of a normal school experience than the last couple of years we’ve had. To have fun.
What is it that got you to want to become a teacher in the first place?
I grew up in a home-daycare. My mom has done home-daycare for 30 plus years. I grew up around kids my whole life.
It was just something I’ve always wanted to do. It was always my dream since I was little.
What would you say is your favorite part of your job?
My favorite part of my job is those kids. Their love, the love they come to show you. What they bring to school. Their different stories they have.
So what would you say it is that motivates you when doing your job?
Being able to reach those kids that are hard to reach, and when they finally do get it, seeing that little light bulb click and the excitement on their end of accomplishment.
What have been some notable moments during your time teaching, or have there been too many notable moments to keep track of?
Too many really. There’s just so many different ones every single year. So many differences.
What’s maybe some advice or something you’d say to someone who maybe wants to go into teaching? Things you’ve learned over your years of teaching.
You have to learn to go with the flow, be very flexible, and you have to be understanding of the kids. You have to be very understanding of those kids.
What are some things that people might not realize an elementary school teacher does in their day-to-day job?
What we take home. Those kids’ stories. The things they come to school and tell us. It’s super hard to just let those go. You cannot.
And when you’re not teaching, how do you like to spend your time? What do you usually do?
I like to spend my time with my family, playing games, doing things outdoors, golfing, and going to the gym.