Shannon King BSEd ’15, MSEd ’16
Third Grade
Anderson Elementary, Frisco ISD

Well, I blinked and my first year of teaching was over. I think “time flies when you’re having fun” is directly applicable to my situation.

I was blessed to get a third-grade position at Anderson Elementary in Frisco ISD. Our principal there created an environment that shines with positivity, and you can tell when you walk through the doors that the teachers, staff, students, and even parents all want to be there. This positive environment pulsed through the building from classroom to classroom, and it really transformed my teaching.

I call my Baylor mentor, Dr. Susan Johnsen, the queen of positive reinforcement (and of everything, really). She drilled into our GT cohort the importance of rewarding students for positive behavior. Surprise, surprise, Dr. J is RIGHT!

I use individual, classroom, and table group reward systems to help our classroom run efficiently with a positive classroom culture. Our school is also very data-driven. We use assessment data to plan small groups and lessons for those groups. This helps me see and understand where my students really are with their learning. It also gives me the freedom to completely differentiate instruction to meet the needs of every student in class.

I had an incredible year at Anderson, but I will not lie to you — teaching is hard work. There will be days where you don’t think you can go back. There are going to be students that will make you want to pull out your eyebrow hair and eat an entire gallon of Blue Bell.

But I am telling you it is so worth it. You will meet kids who will change your life. You will see unimaginable growth. You will connect with kids of different races, religions, and backgrounds and hear stories about their lives. It is the most incredible and worthy career you could pursue, and YOU ARE READY!

One piece of advice for all first-year teachers or seniors looking for jobs: Find a school where you love to be, with people that you genuinely enjoy. You will spend more time there than you will at home most weeks, and you NEED to love where you are. It will truly make all the difference. Lean into Jesus for help with this if you’re confused! He will be whispering — or maybe even screaming — in your ear to help you find your perfect fit.