A special teacher

By Katie Wilson
Times West Virginian

FAIRMONT March 10, 2009 12:59 am

— For many parents, sending their child to school for the first day of kindergarten can be traumatic.
One woman made that day a lot easier for Fairmont’s Karen Hawkins: Her children’s kindergarten teacher, Brenda Morgan.
Morgan is a kindergarten teacher at Pleasant Valley Elementary.
Hawkins has four children, three of whom have special circumstances, such as food allergies, and one of her sons has a growth hormone deficiency. At one time, Hawkins was considering home-schooling her children, until she met Morgan.
“She’s a wonderful lady,” Hawkins said. “She kept my son safe.”
Hawkins said she has been looking for a way to thank Morgan for the excellent start her children received in school, and she knew she had found it when the Times West Virginian began advertising for nominations for “My Favorite Teacher.”
“We don’t ever thank anyone for the hard work they do,” Hawkins said.
“Teaching is a hard job, and she made my kids like school.”
Pleasant Valley principal Karen Richman said she has worked with Morgan for 13 years now.
“She’s an excellent teacher,” Richman said of Morgan. “She really knows that age group. She’s compassionate with the children.”
While Morgan’s expertise is important to parents, it’s also important to Richman.
“I accept her views. She keeps me grounded in what 5-year-olds are like,” Richman said. “I trust her judgment when she talks about children.”
Morgan’s compassion, friendliness and creativity make her a favorite of students, Richman said. Even sixth-graders who were in Morgan’s class still adore her, she said.
Morgan began her teaching career 31 years ago. She has always taught in the early grade levels, but kindergarten is her favorite age group.
“The students are just so innocent and open, eager to learn,” Morgan said. “It’s a cliche, but their minds are like little sponges, and they just absorb everything.”
For many students, their kindergarten teacher has a tremendous impact. That’s the teacher who gets them started out in school, from learning their ABCs to teaching them how to stand in the lunch line. Morgan said that’s not intimidating in the least, she really enjoys watching the students evolve throughout the year.
“The high point is when the start reading,” she said.
Last week, students in Morgan’s class wrote and illustrated their own books.
“I love to teach them to read and watch them become independent,” Morgan said.
In 31 years, a host of students have sat in the desks in front of Morgan’s chalkboard, and many new issues have come up as well. These days, many students attend preschool classes, and Morgan said that’s a good thing.
“Preschool is a definite plus for kids,” she said. “Especially having contact with other kids, but I always root for the stay-at-home mom when it’s possible.”
Morgan has had a number of students with special needs. That can be a challenge, but that’s where kindergarten aides, like Morgan’s aide Flora Slusser, come in handy.
“Every child is different,” Morgan said. “It’s a team effort between the parents and the school.”
At the end of the year, Morgan looks for her students to be well-rounded, creative and independent, with a solid foundation in the basics of education.
“I really enjoy my job,” she said. “There isn’t another job I’d rather have.”
E-mail Katie Wilson at kwilson@timeswv.com.

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