This week's staff highlight recognizes Reading Specialist Jennifer Smail, a teacher at Martin Road Elementary who is a Merchant of Hope, helping students overcome adversity and understand no one is perfect, but we all do the best we can. Read Jennifer's bio below!
I have spent the last 25 years in Lackawanna doing what I love, teaching kids to read and write. I started out in first grade where students come into the classroom able to read or write a few sight words. My next step was pre-kindergarten. I spent nine years teaching the foundations of learning. Now, a student in my very first pre-k class is a teaching colleague of mine. Next opportunity, second grade, and it is here the kids flourish into young learners.
Now I am a ‘Reading Specialist’ and this is my true passion. At my table with small groups of students we read, we laugh, and we make mistakes, but the kids are not afraid to give a challenge a try because after all, as we learn, NO ONE is perfect.