Educator of the Week: Dana Christian
It’s time now to recognize our Educator of the Week, brought to you by the Tennessee Education Lottery.
Dana Christian is a teacher and student support specialist in Carroll County.
She tells us how she started in elementary, but decided on middle school.
“My first student teaching placement was in second grade, and that let me know I did not want the little bitty kids,” Christian said. “My second student teaching placement was in middle school, and I was terrified of the middle schoolers. And my first day there, I thought, this is it. This is where I meant to be.”
“And I think most people look back and do not like their middle school years. And my goal is to always have these kids look back and love their middle school years,” Christian said.
Christian has been in education for 14 years ,but has only been her new roll for two.
She shares what a teacher and student support specialist does.
“I wear a lot of different hats. So I do a lot of data coordination. I do a lot of instructional coach-type work of working with the teachers,” she said. “I do a lot of work-based learning type things with the kids. I go in the classrooms and help teachers that need help with certain students or need help with an overall lesson. So it’s really just trying to fill the gap.”
Christian says the most rewarding part of teaching is watching the students grow into their own person.
“Well, definitely the kids. I know that’s probably a very generic answer, but definitely the kids. And especially in a small school like this, I get to see those kids grow from middle school students to adults and just to see that progression. And it’s a joy.”
She ends by sharing her gratitude for being nominated for Educator of the Week.
“That makes me very happy and very blessed that somebody thought enough of me to nominate me.”
Christian is now eligible for the Tennessee Education Lottery Educator of the Month award.
To vote for her or any other nominees, go to the Tennessee Education Lottery website.
To nominate an educator for our Educator of the Week award, email us at educator@wbbjtv.com.
