Fourth Grade ELA & Social Studies Teacher

I am Teresa Keith and I teach 4^th grade.  Teaching is my second career. Fifteen years ago I began the journey to be a teacher after switching from a career as an administrative assistant to work as a paraprofessional with students that have special needs.  After working as a paraprofessional for a few years, the teachers I worked with began encouraging me to consider going back to school to be a teacher.  After a big change to my life as I knew it, I decided to take on the challenge of being a single mother and going back to school.  Four years later I graduated with honors with a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Ohio University.  I spent a year subbing before getting my first classroom teaching 1^st grade.  I taught 1^st grade for 3 years before making the leap to 4^th grade.  This is my second year at CATA and I value the warm, friendly staff that welcomed me into the CATA family and have encouraged and helped me through all the new things that come with being a part of Team CATA.  My hope is that the students and their families will know that I do not take my responsibility of teaching their child lightly and when they are in my classroom their child will be encouraged to reach their full potential as both an individual and as a student.  Their child will be loved, respected, heard, and most importantly know that my classroom is a safe place where they can learn.