Who Am I?
Where I Am...
My name is Jana. I graduated from Appalachian State University with a B.S. in Elementary Education with a concentration in Psychology in May of 2020. I am now in my first year teaching third grade and taking graduate classes to pursue a Masters in Reading Education. All this in the very mountain town that I have grown to love and call home.
I believe that my call in life is to minister to children. In college, my ministry was mostly in WyldLife through High Country Young Life. In this ministry, I showed the love of Jesus through building of relationships with middle schoolers. Today, as a teacher, my ministry has again made a shift towards younger children in the form of students in my third grade classroom.
I am passionate about educating and mentoring students whilst fostering a love for reading and learning. I believe it is immensely important and essential that today's children love to learn and don't fall into the deep hole that I, and many others, fell into in education in our early years. To do this, relationships come first. Relationships with coworkers, mentors, professionals, parents, students, and myself all play a role in how I teach and care for my students in my classroom.
Where I'm From...
I am from a family of 6 down the mountain in Davie County, NC. My mom is a Kindergarten teacher and has always inspired me to love children in my career as much as she loves her students. I grew up always knowing I loved working with children. I spent much of my time babysitting, volunteering, interning, and working with children to grow in my experience and become a better teacher.
In high school I ran Cross Country and track. I took teacher prep classes that involved child psychology, lesson planning, and interning in Kindergarten and First Grade classrooms. I worked just over two years at a daycare near and dear to my heart both in high school and during breaks in my first year of college.
At App, I quickly found a community that loved me well in Young Life. I became a WyldLife leader my Sophomore year and spent time sharing God's love with middle schoolers through my Senior year. I'd still be doing it now if I had the time to pour into that ministry that I love so much.
"Where I'm From" poem
a work in progress
I am from tennis shoes
from Monopoly and Battleship.
I am from the yellow door up on the hill
full, caring;
It felt like hot chocolate on a chilly day.
I am from the walking stick cactus
the wandering jew
The names my Mammaw called her plants.
I'm from goodnight kisses, glasses, and red hair;
from David and Janell
and Janie Potts.
I'm from the tripping over thin air and
sarcastic remarks.
From "take your shoes off and stay a while,"
and "I'll tell you when you're older."
I'm from holding hands saying the blessing,
Church in our Sunday clothes.
I'm from Mocksville and the Younts in Hickory,
Mamaw corn and ice cream sandwiches.
From the Pappaw who refused to adjust to the 21st century,
the Daddy who won't ever let me leave without a washed car and full-tank of gas.
In photos framed on walls,
I am from a family that remembers those of our past, looks forward to the future, and embraces one-another in the present.
