Meet Joan Golden, Minisink Valley Elementary School kindergarten teacher!

What’s your favorite aspect of your job?

The absolute best grade to teach is kindergarten!  There is no other grade where students show as much growth.  They come in learning their ABCs in September and they leave in June reading, writing and eager to learn more.  The enthusiasm and excitement emanating from a five-year-old is infectious!

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

I have been a member of the Minisink community for 49 years.  I was a kindergarten student in the same classroom that I am a kindergarten teacher.  My five siblings and I all graduated from Minisink and my father was a member of the Minisink Board of Education for 11 years.  My Minisink roots run deep and I wouldn’t want it any other way.

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

I assigned my students the task of making a 100 Day poster in celebration of the 100th day of school.  Michael, one of my students, brought in a poster board with 100 pictures of Ms. Golden.  Whether teaching in a “normal” year or in a pandemic you have to laugh and enjoy every day.  That is what will get us through!

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

The great Maya Angelou was quoted as saying: “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”   Children need to feel loved, feel listened to and feel that they matter.  I am proud to say that my kindergarten colleagues and I work hard every single day to create those feelings in our students!