This week, we celebrate National Teacher Appreciation Week, and here at Compass Charter Schools, we have some of the very best teachers! This year’s theme is Teaching is Heart Work. Teachers are such an important part of a child’s life. They dedicate countless hours and resources to guide and support them. Children are our future, and they depend on teachers to point them in the right direction, guide their curiosity and encourage them to pursue their dreams.
During Teacher Appreciation Month, we honor them for going beyond the call of duty to make a positive impact on our scholar’s learning and development. From the Zoom calls, text messages, and meetings, to the emails, parent-teacher conferences, and work they review—teachers touch the hearts of our scholars in a special way and make a lasting difference in their lives.
Teachers deserve to be celebrated for their dedication and passion, so we shine a spotlight on our January through April 2022 Teachers named Employees of the Month. These teachers go above and beyond every day at Compass to ensure that our scholars are served and given the tools to succeed.
Meet our Die Hard Teacher – Stephanie Lee
Supervising Teacher, January Employee of the Month
What made you decide to become a teacher?
I didn’t actually plan to become a teacher; since my mom, sisters, grandma, and even two of my great grandmothers were teachers, I wanted to do something different. So I studied architecture and then French literature, and then when I graduated in 1990, I decided to teach on an emergency credential in Compton for two years. 32 years later, I cannot imagine doing ANYTHING else with my life!
Have you had another occupation other than teaching?
I took three years away from public schools when my second child was born to be a doula and teach natural childbirth classes.
What made you decide to join the Compass Family?
After raising our three older children, we welcomed our biggest surprise in 2016 – Lee Harold. We juggled our schedules for three years so that he could be home with one of us, and then I was recruited to Compass by several families from my brick and mortar principal days. That was in 2019, and I haven’t looked back. This year I enjoy the active teaching part of my day (live sync) most of all!
What are your favorite hobbies?
Walking (I stick to the >10,000 steps a day) in the evening — up over Signal Hill or down to the ocean at sunset — one is about three miles round trip, and the other is four miles. My youngest goes with me about half the time, and I treasure those connections. I also bake and cook – A LOT. And it’s all vegan, so I am inventing recipes all the time. I like to make sourdough and give it away; today I took fresh warm loaves to my son’s school for Teacher Appreciation Week!
What are your best moments as a teacher? Can you share an inspiring or funny story?
Field Trips. For the 15 years that I ran a small brick-and-mortar school (TK-8, about 400 kids), we took a field trip or did a special event EVERY FRIDAY. I feel like I have been to just about every local museum, beach, wetland, historical site, farm, fair, river, and political office. And I led camping trips in the mountains every spring and most falls for our whole middle school – those night hikes and canoe rides with kids who were usually indoors are some of the brightest highlights of my career.
Meet our Soccer Star Teacher – Jennifer Tatum
K-8 Coordinator, February Employee of the Month
What made you decide to become a teacher?
I grew up babysitting; it was natural for me to take care of children at a young age. I also played soccer and then became a soccer coach. I love working with kids and watching them light up when they succeed.
How many years have you been teaching?
I have been teaching for 12 years, eight at Compass. I was a middle school teacher for so long; it is nice to serve in my new role as K-8 Coordinator. I love giving back to teachers and mentoring them along their virtual teaching path.
Have you had another occupation other than teaching? Explain.
Well, I can remember as far back as delivering pizza! And I was a soccer coach for many years.
What made you decide to join the Compass Family?
I was working in a classroom and coaching soccer; then, after having my children, I thought, what if I could teach online? I still remember interviewing with a director at Compass, talking with him for over two hours, and I thought this job sounds like a dream! And it has been!
What are your favorite hobbies?
We have a super active family; we love boating on the lake, snow skiing, and more. I still play soccer every week.
What are your best moments as a teacher? Can you share an inspiring or funny story?
I remember co-teaching with a Science teacher; we were doing a cross-curricular curriculum English with Science. Well, I let out a huge burp, completely involuntary, in front of all my eighth graders! We had a huge laugh about it; my scholars were great, even though I was utterly embarrassed!
Meet our Brave Teacher – Kari Watt
Online Elementary School Teacher, March Employee of the Month
What made you decide to become a teacher?
A long time ago, lol, when I was a senior in high school, I was part of the Teacher ROP program; I started volunteering in a classroom of Kindergartners. I will never forget working with my first scholar, who was struggling, teaching him to master his ABCs. Eventually, he became confident enough to recite them in front of his whole class! I knew then that I was destined to become a teacher at that moment!
How many years have you been teaching?
Just about the same amount of time that I have been married, so 21 years!
Have you had another occupation other than teaching?
No. It has always been teaching. I am also a Mom to a 17, 14, and 11-year-old.
What made you decide to join the Compass Family?
I love the flexibility that Compass provides; it truly is the best of both worlds, working with my scholars and having time with my children.
What are your favorite hobbies?
I love to read and do anything outdoors. I have a basketball family. My husband coaches high school basketball, and my two daughters and son play. I am the spectator; I guess that you could say!
What are your best moments as a teacher? Can you share an inspiring or funny story?
One of my greatest moments as a teacher was in my 3-grade learning lab this year. We chose to highlight the novel Freckle Juice for the semester. My scholars were shocked and amazed when I actually made “freckle juice” and drank it!! (The secret recipe includes grape juice, vinegar, mustard, mayonnaise, juice from a lemon, and other unpleasant ingredients!)
Meet our Peace Corps Teacher – Sophie Samson
Online Middle School Teacher, April Employee of the Month
What made you decide to become a teacher?
My mom is in education (she has been a teacher and a principal), so I was partially inspired by her. I have always liked working with kids and spent a lot of time tutoring and babysitting throughout high school and college. After I graduated college, I joined the Peace Corps and taught abroad in the Federated States of Micronesia. When I finished my Peace Corps service in 2016, I found out that there was a special route to becoming a credentialed teacher in California for returned Peace Corps Volunteers, so I moved to Los Angeles and got a job teaching at a school that a friend of a friend had recently started. I have been teaching in California ever since.
How many years have you been teaching?
I taught from 2014 to 2016 abroad as a Peace Corps Volunteer, and from 2016 until now in the United States.
Have you had another occupation other than teaching?
Not really. I worked for a few psychology research labs as an undergrad.
What made you decide to join the Compass Family?
I liked teaching online when we were all forced to try it out during the height of the pandemic (from March 2020 to April 2021). Because of that, I started looking for an online teaching job. I was particularly interested in working at Compass because it has been an online school for a long time. In addition, I liked the idea of working at a school that already had online learning figured out.
What are your favorite hobbies?
I enjoy cycling, running, yoga, reading, digital/pixel art, cooking/baking, and gardening.
What are your best moments as a teacher? Can you share an inspiring or funny story?
I have spent most of my teaching career teaching English. I love figuring out what books particular scholars will like and getting them hooked on reading-especially when they’re kids who thought at the beginning of the year that they would never like to read. Sometimes all it takes is finding the right book/author/genre.
Thank you to these incredible teachers for sharing their stories. We are so Loud and Proud of all of our teachers here at Compass! So, this month, let’s celebrate them! Post all about teachers who have impacted your life on Compass social media, and tag @CompassCs with #ThankATeacher on social media!
