Introducing: ‘Teacher Spotlight!’ Meet Intermediate School fifth-grade teacher Karen Nicholson

Teacher spotlight artworkWelcome to 2021 “Teacher Spotlight!”

Every Tuesday, you’ll meet one of our wonderful Minisink Valley teachers and learn more about their important work!

Karen NicholsonToday, Jan. 25, meet Intermediate School fifth-grade teacher Karen Nicholson!

What’s your favorite aspect of your job?

My favorite part of my job is, of course, working with children. It is so rewarding to see the growth of my students throughout the school year. I love that each year brings fresh new faces and new beginnings. I also enjoy coming to work each day because I have the opportunity to work with the most dedicated group of teachers.

Why do you believe in and support the work of the Minisink Valley School District and what it does for the community?

I have always believed in Minisink. I grew up here, went to school here and now teach here. The Minisink Valley School District is the cornerstone of our community. I believe that especially during these unprecedented times, they want what is best for the students. We truly are a Minisink Family – working as a team and always pulling together during tough times.

• How has this pandemic refocused the work you do every day?

The pandemic has certainly changed the way I work every day! I have learned so much over the last several months about setting up and implementing a digital classroom. I have learned to be more flexible, to work more collaboratively with other teachers, and to try to connect with students using both a fully remote and hybrid model. It has also forced me to utilize technology in ways that I never thought I could! As a result, all of these things have made me a better teacher.

• What do you want to say directly to the community about the importance of your work?

I would like to tell the community that we are here for the students and even when they are not physically in school, we are working for them! Even though this is not the traditional style of learning, our ultimate goal is to provide the best education possible. It may not be a perfect situation, but through these challenging times we have learned to overcome obstacles, we’ve learned more about ourselves and we’ve learned what we can achieve together. With patience, cooperation and a joint effort we can accomplish our common goal in educating our children.