Iva’s Question Quest
Hi, I’m Iva and I have a passion for getting to know people and discovering the world. Listen along as I interview people, tell stories, and explain history mysteries.
Iva’s Question Quest
From Stuffed Animals to Students: Why Teaching Was Always Her Calling
Ms Pritchard shares her 19-year journey teaching children and adults, from elementary grades to college-level instruction. Her lifelong passion for teaching began in childhood when she would arrange her stuffed animals and teach them, demonstrating a clear calling that has defined her professional life.
• Teaching was Ms Pritchard's only career aspiration since childhood
• Experience spans second, fourth, and fifth grades plus college-level teaching at Coastal Carolina
• Having the same schedule as her children creates valuable family time during summers
• Her husband is also an educator who works as a professor
• Building relationships with students is her favorite aspect of teaching
• She enjoys creating a fun learning environment while challenging students to grow
Hello, we are here today at St James Elementary School with Ms Pritchard, a 4th grade GT teacher. Hello, ms Pritchard, and thank you for joining me today.
Speaker 2:Hello Iva, thank you for having me.
Speaker 1:How long have you been in education?
Speaker 2:This is my 19th year teaching children and adults. I actually taught college too.
Speaker 1:That's really cool. What inspired you? To become a teacher?
Speaker 2:Really, just from a very young age it's all I really ever wanted to be, so I was the kid that would get my stuffed animals and put them around the room and try to teach them and do fun things with them. So I kind of always wanted to do it.
Speaker 1:Did you always want to be a teacher?
Speaker 2:Yes, ma'am, I didn't want to be anything else.
Speaker 1:What grade levels have you taught and what is your favorite?
Speaker 2:So I have taught second grade, I've taught fourth grade, I've taught fifth grade and then I've taught college students at Coastal Carolina, and I've taught students how to become teachers.
Speaker 1:That's super duper cool. How does your family feel about you teaching?
Speaker 2:Um, I think it's. You know, it's kind of just like what they're used to. My husband's a professor so he does similar things. He kind of teaches too. But my kids, I think, have enjoyed having the same schedule as me, so I have summer off with them and we get to hang out a lot, so I think they like it. I think if mom's happy, they're happy.
Speaker 1:What is your favorite thing about being a teacher?
Speaker 2:happy. What is your favorite thing about being a teacher? My favorite thing would definitely be the relationships that I build with kids Getting to see kids have fun but learn at the same time and challenge them to be even better and stronger students.
Speaker 1:That is super cool. And stronger students, that is super cool. Thank you for joining me today in our St James interview podcast. Bye, bye, iva.