Name: Christy Jolley

Position: 1st grade Teacher

Hometown: Spartanburg, SC

How many years you've been teaching: I have been in education over 20 years.

College or University and Undergraduate Degree: Southern Wesleyan University Bachelor in Early Childhood

Graduate Degree/Additional Education: Purdue University Master of Education Teaching Literacy and Language

Favorite Book: I love the series of There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly

What inspires you in the classroom?: Being a teacher inspires me every day because I get to witness the incredible growth and transformation in my students. There is nothing more rewarding than seeing a student's eye light up when they finally understand something they once struggled with. It reminds me that my work has meaning and that the patient, energy, and that care I give can truly make a difference in someone's life. I'm inspired by their curiosity, resilience, and unique perspectives which challenge me to keep learning and growing alongside them. Even on the hardest days a simple thank you or a small breakthrough fills me with purpose and reminds me why I chose this path in the first place.