DAPHNE, Ala. — Daphne Elementary School’s kindergarten teacher Melissa Jackson — a Spanish Fort resident of six years — is the school’s 2010 Teacher of the Year.

Jackson has been a kindergarten teacher at DES for five years and a teacher in Alabama for seven years. She graduated from Troy University with an education degree.

“I am so lucky to teach in an environment that fosters a love of education,” Jackson said.

“Every day is an adventure in our kindergarten room and every day we all learn something new.”

But what are Jackson’s teaching philosophies?

What other age groups does she want to teach?

What impact does she hope to have on her children?

And, what is the hardest thing she must do as a teacher?

Here’s a chance to find a bit more about DES’ 2010 Teacher of the Year.

Q: What teaching methods do you use to reach your students?

A: (My students and I) do a lot of hands-on. I use a lot of technology. The kids work in small groups with one another and with me. I try to keep them as involved as possible.

Q: What’s your favorite part about teaching kindergarten?

A: … Seeing the (students’) growth from the very first day of school until the very last day of kindergarten.

Q: What is it like to watch your students progress through school from grade to grade?

A: That is unbelievable. Last year was my first year to see that, because my first group of kids were now fourth-graders. To see them read chapter books and the same books I read, it’s amazing to see how they grow up and makes me feel old, but it kind of makes you feel good.

Q: Are there any other classes you want to teach besides kindergarten?

A: I never thought I would want to teach kindergarten until I got a job teaching kindergarten. Now I love it.

Q: DES’s recent Fall Festival raised funds to help reduce out-of-pocket spending by teachers to maintain their classroom. What impact does the festival have on the school’s teachers?

A: I think that especially with our Fall Festival, our PTA bends over backwards for us. They provide money for our classrooms since the state took it away. Our state allocations were around $500, and the PTA provided last year and this year through fundraising — like the Fall Festival — around $300 for each classroom teacher. That is outstanding. Our teachers are very much supported by not only our parents but also our community.

Q: How much time do you spend on your job per day outside the classroom?

A: I get here about an hour and a half before school starts. Also, I’m the site supervisor for our after-school care program. With the holidays coming up and making things for the kids, it’s a couple more hours on the weekends. It’s a lot of “out of your classroom” time. It’s definitely not a 9-to-5 job, but it’s fun and it’s rewarding when you have 20 kids that appreciate you and love you and think you’re beautiful and smart.

Q: What is the hardest part about being a teacher?

A: Trying to help children overcome the outside factors. If they’re having problems at home and Mom and Dad are struggling to makes ends meet and are working all the time, (the student) is not going to have as much help at home. Also, you have so many children that have allergies; so many children that have special needs. It’s overcoming things that I have no control of. I like to be in control. I like to fix it. I like it done right, but then there are times when you have to step back and accept there’s nothing I can do about it.

Q: What impact do you hope to have on your students once they exit your classroom the last day of the year?

A: I want them to have a desire to learn. No matter how much they learned in kindergarten, I want to build upon them how important it is to keep learning and know how to learn and how to ask questions and not be afraid to take a chance and take a risk and do whatever they need to go wherever they’re going to go in life.