Wendy Simmons has been teaching third grade at Magnolia School for 16 years.

“The enjoyment of seeing students learn and to see their reaction after learning a new concept, see the lightbulb come on, is wonderful,” Simmons says.

When Simmons was in the current grade she is now teaching, she knew she wanted to become a teacher.

“When I was in third grade, I would come home from school and play like I was a teacher,” she says. “Both of my parents were in education, which inspired me to become an educator and work with children.”

Simmons hopes her students learn a few lessons outside of the day-to-day lesson plan.

“I hope my student learn how to get along with each other,” she says. “I hope my students learn social skills to interact with each other, and I hope they learn to become great leaders and to conform to the atmosphere in a classroom.”

There was a specific teacher that inspired Simmons to take up an education career.

“Ms. Jo Novotny,” Simmons says. “She was my third grade teacher.”

Simmons realized in third grade she wanted to be an educator and her third grade teacher inspired her to become a teacher. It’s no wonder she’s been teaching her favorite grade for so long at Magnolia School.

TEACHER: Wendy Simmons

SCHOOL: Magnolia School

SUBJECT(S) TAUGHT: Third grade

SOMETHING INTERESTING ABOUT YOURSELF: I learned to play the piano and saxophone. I was a high school cheerleader, and I played in the high school band.