Teacher of the Month

Hope Shirah

Ashford Elementary

Transitioning a student from kindergarten to first grade should not be taken lightly. It is a pivotal right of passage for so many six-year-olds as they genuinely begin to establish their independence and individuality. There is no better teacher for many Ashford Elementary parents to handle this critical milestone than Mrs. Hope Shirah.

“This is my 6th year teaching, and I have taught first grade for all six years,” said Mrs. Shirah, our Wiregrass Parents Teacher of the Month. She was nominated by Kathy Mathis, who described Mrs. Shirah as a godsend for her grandson.

Mrs. Shirah received her degree in Elementary Education from Troy Dothan in 2016 and plans to continue teaching first grade for as long as possible. She thoroughly enjoys teaching younger kids and working with her first-grade team at Ashford Elementary. The first-grade teachers have a great support system and work very well together.

“I wanted to be a teacher since I was a little girl. My sister and I would play school every afternoon,” Mrs. Shirah shared. “I started going to college to be a teacher but changed degrees several times for various reasons. After getting an associate’s degree, I stayed home and raised my kids until the baby started school. Then I realized I still desired to be a teacher, so I returned to school and completed my Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education.”

Essential qualities for a first-grade teacher consist of patience, flexibility, and, well, loads more patience, according to Mrs. Shirah. She works hard to keep kids engaged and having fun! It is essential to her that students know they are loved and that she will always be there for them, even after they leave her classroom.

“I am so honored to be nominated for teacher of the month by one of my student’s parents,” said Mrs. Shirah. “This is a great encouragement that I am indeed doing what I am called to do.”

Mrs. Shirah says she desires new teachers coming into the field to know how important it is that they are their students’ biggest cheerleaders for that year.

“Get to know your students and teach them, don’t just teach a program,” shared Mrs. Shirah. “Seeing kids you have taught go on to be great students who enjoy learning while also becoming great people is most rewarding.”

Hope Shirah has been married to Brandon for 17 years and they have four amazing children: Branson (16), Landon (14), Caydon (13) and Katie Grace (11). She enjoys going to the beach and the lake, spending time with family, shopping and watching her kids play sports.

Sponsored by Dothan Pediatric Healthcare Network

Happy Hallow-teen!

October is upon us, and with it comes Halloween! Traditionally, Halloween safety is considered in terms of younger children, trick-or-treating, and supervised school parties.

However, Halloween is not just for the little ones. You may find your teenager wants to help decorate the house. They may want to go trick-or-treating or go to a Halloween party. Here are a few things to help them (and you) have a safe and fun experience.

If they are driving home from school or practice on days your community is trick-or-treating, make sure they know to pay extra attention. While parents of young trick-or-treaters try their best to keep young ones safe and orderly, sometimes the urge to get to the next house, to dart into the street because they got spooked, or to run and see the costume of one of their favorite characters can be overwhelming. If your teen is driving on Halloween, encourage them to drive slower than usual or have them drive home a little later after most kids have gone back inside. Strictly enforce the “no texting and driving” rule. You may want to consider driving them or picking them up if they are new drivers.

If your teen is going to a Halloween party, make sure they are costume smart. If they are dressing up, they shouldn’t be driving in a costume that impedes their ability to see. Ensure their costume allows them to turn their head completely and does not affect their ability to operate the vehicle safely. This may require them to wait and get dressed up once they reach their destination. The same applies to any passengers in the car. Further, be sure their costume is appropriate for the weather or that they bring extra layers.

Remember that some costumes may alter the voice or mask the appearance of their friends. Ask them to be sure they verify individuals at parties before interacting with them. If you host a party at your house with teenagers, limit it to invited guests and/or friends who can be identified. Advise teens never to leave drinks or food unattended. Lastly, review with them all your expectations regarding alcohol and drugs.

Halloween is an exciting time of the year. So let’s be sure to have a fun and safe Hallow-teen!

Dr. Jacob Edwards is a General Pediatrician licensed by the Alabama Board of Medical Examiners and certified by the American Board of Pediatrics. Dr. Edwards received his Doctor of Medicine degree from Morehouse School of Medicine and completed his Pediatric Residency Program at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C. He has completed advanced studies in Adolescent Medicine. Dr. Edwards sees both pediatric and young adult (ages 1824) patients at Dothan Pediatric Subspecialty Clinic and his clinical interests include obesity and sports medicine.

Words Matter... Even Online!

Words matter. They are the cornerstone of our everyday lives. What we say and how we say it has so much impact on our lives and the lives of others. Words are an inexhaustible resource. They have started and stopped wars. They influence how we think and what we believe. No matter the language, words hold more power than any weapon ever created. I will always be passionate about this topic of conversation, especially when it comes to educating our youth.

We all have access to devices that allow us to communicate every second of every day. We can log on to any news site, social media app, or gaming device and have an instant connection. We have an immediate platform for an audience. Anyone can go live on Facebook, Instagram or TikTok. We can share anything from how to make ramen to deep-seated personal and political beliefs. The internet provides no boundaries for every thought or feeling someone may have, should they wish to share it. For our young, impressionable kids and teens, this can be difficult terrain for them to navigate. It is often hard to decipher what is true and what is not. It is also problematic when the words being said target others in a hurtful manner. Our children are often sharing the same literary playground with uncensored adults.

So what does all of this mean? How does this affect our children? How can we help them navigate what they are reading and hearing?

We begin by modeling good digital behavior. As parents and guardians, we must be sure that what we say online best represents us. We want to be proud of our chosen words and be comfortable with our children reading them. In this way, we teach them how much their words matter.

There is a term I began using years ago in conferences with my students. It is “screen brave.” Kids and adults tend to feel very brave behind a screen. We forget that there are real humans on the other side of the screen, reading every word we say. This can make it feel easy to say hurtful things because we cannot immediately SEE the hurt it creates. So we must teach our children that their words matter. What they say can help or hurt someone. What they say can affect others’ lives and their own. We must help them avoid being screen brave. A tip I give all of my students is this... Every time you get on your phone, pretend like you have an audience sitting right in front of you. If you would not say face to face to the audience what you are about to say online, then it is best not to say it at all.

We must also teach them the heavy consequences of their words. While we are not responsible for other people’s reactions and cannot make people do things, we can be held responsible for the consequences of our words. If we are leading groups of people to harm others, then we are responsible for that leadership. If we encourage someone to do something wrong, illegal or irreversible, we must be held responsible for the role we play.

There are numerous cases where teens have encouraged other teens to commit suicide and were convicted of involuntary manslaughter. Telling someone how to KYS (kill yourself) is now a punishable offense. Teach your children that when angry, the best place for them is NOT the internet. Teach them to take a breath, take a step back, and think about the words they want to use and the possible resulting consequences. Lastly, remain involved. Check their accounts. Have open conversations. Give them a safe space to have hard days and to feel angry. Give them space to vent to you, a counselor, or a trusted adult without spilling their words onto the internet for everyone to see... and for everyone to feel. I love this quote by J. K. Rowling, “Words are, in my not so humble opinion, our most inexhaustible source of magic. Capable of both inflicting injury, and remedying it.”

Kristi Bush serves as a national education consultant and social media safety advocate. She is a licensed social worker with greater than 15 years of clinical practice and health care experience. She attended Troy and Auburn University where she studied social work and counseling. Kristi travels nationally and has spoken with thousands of children, parents, professionals and organizations about the benefits and threats associated with social media. You may reach Kristi through her website at www.knbcommunications.com.