Meghan Bruns, Cedar Heights Elementary
Position: 2nd Grade Teacher
Years Teaching: 5 years
Hobbies/Interests: Traveling, crafting, puzzles and board games, walks with my husband and puppy, reading, watching movies
What do you enjoy most about teaching? The thing I enjoy most about teaching is getting to know each of my students and building a relationship with them and their families. While I love teaching subjects, like math, nothing compares to the relationships I build with my students.
What do you find the most challenging about teaching? There are only so many hours in the day and so much time to feel like you've accomplished all you wanted to. Even at my best, I feel like I could do more for each student and our classroom. Another hard thing is saying goodbye at the end of the year to the classroom family we've built. There is something so special about how classes grow together through the year, and the relationships they've built. Seeing it come to an end is hard.
Best tip for new teachers: Find your marigolds. That's right- plural. Find the teachers that elevate others and the ones that help you even when they don't have to; the ones who support you. I would be nowhere without the amazing teachers at Cedar Heights who gave me support beginning even before the first day of school. Learn from them and try some of their ideas. You have to do what works for you and your classroom, but having supportive colleagues around you makes all the difference.
Best tip for career teachers: As someone who still considers themselves a newer teacher, I feel like the best advice I have is to continue learning. I look at career teachers I know and want to learn from them. I want to glean ideas from their classroom and their management skills, even if it just through an observation and not a sit down meeting. New teachers are eager to learn and will be looking towards the career teachers for what they are doing. As a career teacher, not only are your students looking up to you, but so are other teachers, so continuing to learn and adapt is important.
Favorite piece of advice for students: Laugh and have fun. We learn the most when when we are enjoying our time together. I love to have fun during the school day, and a great day is when my kids jump alongside me to laugh and learn.
What being a Gold Star Teacher means to you: I grew up in the Cedar Valley and can remember nominating several of my teachers as a child. I wanted them to be recognized for how great they were, and to know how highly I thought of them. I never thought I would be on the other side of that. Being a Gold Star Teacher, to me, means I am making a difference and others have noticed. I feel held to a high standard and won't stop improving my craft.