Andrea Weide has plenty of advice for her fellow teachers and paraprofessionals at Iola Elementary School when it comes to balancing their jobs, family and online schooling.
It all comes down to time management.
“You have to be a self-starter. You have to keep pushing yourself and reminding yourself that the end will be so worth it,” she said.
She would know.
Weide graduated in May from Wichita State University’s Teacher Apprentice Program (TAP). It allowed her to continue working at the elementary school as a para while she took an intensive slate of online classes to earn a teaching certificate.
Now, she has her own first-grade classroom.
“I love teaching. I love those ‘aha’ moments, those light bulb moments. I love helping a child develop confidence,” she said.
“It doesn’t feel like a job. I’m just having fun.”
Weide is one of several current or former Iola Elementary paras making the transition to become a teacher. Seven of them sat down with the Register last week to discuss the program.
They come from different backgrounds and have different reasons for wanting to be a teacher. But all have one thing in common: They love working with kids.
GALE HOAG
Hoag is no stranger to education.
Since 1997, she has served as a substitute teacher, on and off.
She also has a multitude of college credits under her belt, estimating she’s probably earned enough to get her teaching degree. The problem was that because she attended several different colleges, she never could transfer enough of the credits to graduate.
A call from the school district several years ago, prompted her to get back on track to get a teaching certificate.
“They needed someone to fill an art position and thought I would be perfect for it,” she recalled.
She finished out that first year as a long-term substitute art teacher for kindergarten through second grade students.
She started the Teacher Apprentice Program in 2022, but is only able to take classes on a part-time basis.
Meanwhile, she continues to teach K-2 art.
PARKER SMITH
Smith was just 15 when he became a volunteer for SAFE BASE, the district’s afterschool program. Eight years later, he’s still with it.
