Some kids pick a different career path every other day.
From a firefighter to a ballerina to a chef, many kids can’t decide what they want to be when they grow up.
The same can’t be said for Leanne Howse.
Ever since she was a kid she told her mom over and over again that she would be a teacher and she fulfilled that prophecy.
Born and raised in Delhi, Leanne didn’t leave her hometown for that long as she returned to teach at the school she attended as a youth.
Her passion for teaching certain translated well into the classroom, with Leanne saying that she tries her best to balance a silly and fun time with hard work.
She says she does work her students hard, but she also tries to make sure they are having fun while they are at it.
She approaches every morning as if it is the first page of a new book.
When you open the book, that first page has to get you hooked and involved so that you will continue reading and that’s her goal for her students.
Having a connection with the students and their parents is vital for Leanne, especially with the on and off again virtual learning model.
She said when online classes first began, by her nature she was trying to get her checklist of items complete in what was a pretty chaotic scene.
The teacher added it all changed when she put down that clipboard and focused more on the students and how they were doing.
She said once she realized the checklist could wait, everything clicked and online learning became better.
Leanne has been teaching now for over two decades but every year, she says she has at least one student with who she feels that – when all is said and done – she has made a difference.
Leanne is currently a teacher at Saint Frances Cabrini School.
You can hear Leanne’s full interview below.