INSPIRING THE NEXT GENERATION

Jenna Layton fulfilled her childhood dream of becoming a teacher, and now teaches second grade at the Stewardson-Strasburg elementary school, the same school she attended throughout her childhood.

“I had really influential teachers from elementary school through college, and that helped mefurther my knowledge of what I wanted to be,” Layton said. “I have loved working with kids ever since I was little and knew this was something that I have always wanted to do.”

While Layton has now settled into a teaching position where she grew up, her journey to get there included many different locations, including even Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

“My husband was in the military, so we moved around a lot,” Layton said. “Thanks to that, I was able to experience different customs, cultures and diversities not only in the schools but in the communities we lived in. It helped me to have a broader understanding of how to teach and relate with students. I try to bring as many of those experiences into my own classroom now as I can.”

“I love seeing students learn how to become better writers and having them get an ‘ah-ha’ moment when learning something new in math. Seeing them grow into confident readers is one of the most rewarding things in my career. I strive to teach them something that they will take with them for a lifetime.”

“Having students get excited about school and creating a safe and positive environment for learning is so rewarding,” Layton said. “I had a good educational experience, I want them to have a positiveschool experience and hopefully remember me as not just their teacher, but someone who they could confide in and look up to. I hope one day I will inspire a student to become a teacher just as I had teachers inspire me growing up.”

As a starting point, Layton said Lake Land College was a great choice for her.

“Lake Land is the best first place to get you acclimated to what you want to do,” Layton said. “They teach you how to be prepared and have everything ready, while also teaching you how to be flexible and able to adapt.”