❤❓WHY WEDNESDAY - Kathi Rippy
This is Kathi Rippy, one Kindergarten teachers at Roosa Elementary. She has been teaching for a total of 9 years, 2 of those here at Claremore Public Schools. Aside from teaching “the most amazing Kindergarteners,” she is also a wife of 18 years to Steven Rippy, and a mother to 5 children, and is the children’s director at New Life Assembly. Her admiration for teachers was instilled in her early on in life. She did not find her passion for teaching personally until later in life while working as a paraprofessional at her children's school in 2014. She later finished her degree and became a certified teacher. This is her WHY story.
❓Why Statement:
“My journey to becoming a teacher began long before I realized it, long before I was born. It really began with my mother. As a child, she was sick often and in the hospital; she missed a ton of school. As a result, she was illiterate until she was in the 9th grade. When a teacher noticed her struggling, she decided to help her. My mom became an avid reader, graduated from high school, and even taught Preschool for several years. She also obtained her Associate degree a couple of years ago. You could say she inspires me to be a better teacher, take notice of the kid that's struggling, and never EVER give up!
In 1998 my teachers, classmates, and I were victims of a school shooting. While this was a horrific thing to go through and experience, what really stands out to me now is the teachers. They were so brave during and afterward. Several of them stayed at the school and continued caring for their students, including myself until we graduated. They were a safe place to talk and really helped us cope with this tragedy. They weren't just interested in giving x amount of assignments and forgetting the rest; they were interested in us and our future. They put aside their fears to lead us through some of the toughest years of our lives!
After graduating high school, I took a lot of turns and detours. I got married and started having a family. I finally decided to finish my degree in 2014 while working as a Paraprofessional at my children's school. While raising five children, working full-time, and serving alongside my husband in Children's Ministry at church, I went to school full-time online. It was a lot!! People ask me how I did it; all I can say is with Jesus and my husband. Throw in interning during the pandemic; it was an interesting ride.
I graduated in May of 2021 with a BA in Elementary Education. A few weeks later, we moved from Arkansas to Oklahoma to serve as Children's Directors at New Life Assembly in Collinsville. I began working at Roosa in September of 2021 as a Kindergarten teacher. I LOVE working at Roosa with some of the most amazing Educators around.
I truly believe that God called me to teach! Every child deserves an equal opportunity to learn. We were not made to be the same as everyone else, so why would we all learn the same way? I also believe that every child should have a safe place to feel loved, successful, and wanted. The sad reality is that not every child has this at home. When they step into my classroom, they will know first that they are loved, safe, and welcome. Then, they will know they are capable of learning great things! Seeing them light up with pride in themselves for their success in school is truly a joy.”
❗ A-ha Moment:
“In my first year of teaching, I was at a point where I was really struggling and discouraged. One child, in particular, had some major changes happening at home all year, and those changes were reflected negatively in the classroom. I worked very hard to be supportive and encouraging throughout the year. Sometimes, this was very difficult to achieve. I began questioning if I was even making a difference. Towards the end of the year, this child told me he wanted to grow up and become a teacher like me. He wanted to come back and work at Roosa too. That completely blessed my socks off! It reminded me that, even when we feel like we are failing at teaching, sometimes all that matters is they have a safe place to land.”
#CPSZEBRAPRIDE