cte profile: JANice GARDNER A 33-year veteran teacher shares a few career highlights before retirement Name: Janice S. Gardner School and subject area: Webster County Career and Technology Center, Early Childhood Education
Alma Mater: Mississippi State University, B.S. in home economics; University of Mississippi and Mississippi State University, M.S. in agricultural and extension education with a cognate in home economics
Years teaching: 33 What brought you to the career? In high school, I planned to major in math, but a scholarship through the Mississippi Cooperative Extension Service from the Ball Company for majors in home economics influenced me to pursue a career in family and consumer sciences. What is the best advice you've ever received? Not all children have a home, a mother or daddy, or maybe even a bed to sleep in each night. Teach every student as though he or she were my very own child. Treat every student as I would have a teacher treat my child. Remember, school is my home and life. Involve my family in my school activities. What is your favorite memory from teaching? Once I was teaching a group of male and female students to make a pair of Hawaiian-print jam shorts. The boys were all football players and a bit embarrassed to be sewing, so they covered the glass panel of the classroom door so no one could see them. They all assured me they would never wear those shorts, but to my surprise when I arrived at a senior party later in the spring, all the students were wearing their jam shorts. What a nice surprise and joy in my heart! How do your students inspire you? Many of my students inspire me because they come from homes that are not familiar with
the many resources the world has to offer, especially to further their education or to enter the workforce. I find myself pushing students to perfect résumés, make reference contacts and locate information for college-entrance requirements on the Internet. I do not want a student to not further his or her education because he or she is unaware of the resources available.
What advice do you have for new teachers? Prepare, prepare, prepare. Follow through with your preparations, but be prepared
for interruptions. Lesson plans are simple guides that often must be adjusted to accommodate immediate needs of the students, not the teacher. Proudly be an active member of your professional organization. You learn so much from networking with other teachers and through informative workshops in your professional area that will enhance your daily teaching experience. Be an active adviser in your student organization. The student organization can improve a student’s entire outlook on school and life.
What has been your proudest moment in your career? One of the proudest moments in my career began when a special
needs student with verbalizing problems (sound deaf) asked me if she could compete in the state FCCLA competitions. With reservations, I said, “Yes.” She learned her 5-minute script and competed. She did not place. I saw the disappointment and heaviness in her heart. The next year she asked again to compete. With reservations again, I answered, “Yes.” She struggled and learned her 5-minute script. When her name was called out as the state first-place winner, my eyes filled with tears and I trembled all over to think of how far she had come. She still wears her gold medal at night and to many functions. She now has a full-time job and is self-sufficient.
What would your students be surprised to know about you? My students would probably be surprised to know that I grew up on a farm hand-milking cows and feeding chickens. I showed sheep in 4-H and competed in horse shows for many years. What do you plan to do in retirement? When I retire, I plan to travel without needing a substitute or having to leave lesson plans behind for a substitute. I will get to be involved in my grandchildren’s extracurricular activities. I will also begin handling everyday affairs of our mini-storage business and gophering for my husband’s GTO Golf Kars business in Mathiston. 18 Connections Fall 2012