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March is Employee Appreciation Month! We’re celebrating our team members all month long by sharing their stories. Read more about Helen Boyle, Special Education Teacher, and how it is never too late to begin your special education career!

What is your favorite thing about working here?

My favorite thing about working here is seeing a child realize that they know how to do something today that they could not do yesterday. 

What keeps you coming to work each day?

My students are the reason I come every day. 

How do you make an impact on students’ lives?

The impact I make comes from letting them know their feelings are valid and okay. For example, feeling frustrated is a part of learning. We have to learn to cope with that feeling and push through.  

Which one of our BetterTogether values resonates with you most personally and why? (Integrity, Accountable, Collaborative, Inclusive, Supportive)

Collaboration is a vital part of being a teacher. We learn from each other just the way our students learn best from each other.  

What does a “day in the life” look like for your role?

 I arrive at school around 7:40 a.m. each day to prepare the work my students will be doing. As they arrive, I greet them, and we walk together to get breakfast. We start our morning by listening to our good morning song, followed by a zone check-in—this year, my students use a Pokémon chart, while last year, we had a minion chart. Next, we begin reading mastery, followed by a run brain break video—Among Us, Dino, and Sharks are my students' favorites. Then, we transition into reading class, where we are currently focused on science cycles. While my students are at specials, I use that time to grade assignments and review their homework. Afterward, I have lunch and take my students to recess. The afternoon consists of math class, followed by intervention. We alternate between science and social studies, and we finish the day with social emotional learning. Before dismissal, I hold student conferences, and then I wrap up my day with meetings, discussions with related services, and calls to parents.

Can you talk a little bit about your career trajectory and what led you to where you are now?

Teaching was a midlife career change for me. Before becoming a teacher, I worked in theater and various office settings. 

What has been your proudest moment or accomplishment in your role?

I had a student who, no matter how he felt, would always say he was in the green zone. Over time, he realized that the four existing zones weren’t enough to express his emotions. He took the initiative to create two new zones: the purple zone (a mix of sad and mad) and the gray zone (for when you feel lonely).

What is something about you that not many people know?

I have a master’s degree in Educational Theatre.

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