EDITOR’S NOTE: The Valley Times-News is doing a Q&A with all of the teachers of the year in the Chambers County School System. Today, we are writing about Lera Grubbs, a Kindergarten teacher at Huguley Elementary. We asked her 17 questions, and we shortened this interview to some of our favorite responses.

Lera Grubbs has been a familiar face in the Chambers County school system for 13 years. Eight of those years have been spent at Huguley Elementary School as a Kindergarten teacher.

She has worked all 13 years in Chambers County.

Grubbs married her husband, Josh, 10 years ago, who works as an engineering manager at West Point Industries. They share two children, eight-year-old Sadie and three-year-old Benjamin. 

Aside from teaching Kindergarten, Grubbs serves on the school’s leadership team, which meets to “discuss the climate and culture of our school, plan upcoming events, and review data,” she explained. 

What inspired you to become an educator? (Or who?)

My father and many of my own teachers were my inspirations to become an educator. My father taught auto-body repair for Chambers County and Southern Union. Growing up, I had many wonderful and caring teachers such as Mrs. White, Mrs. Brooks, Mrs. Fryer, and Mr. Shaw. All of these people poured into me and helped me become the educator that I am today.

If you weren’t a teacher, what career field would you be in?

I have always loved working in restaurants so maybe owning my own restaurant or store. As a teenager, I worked at David’s BBQ for several years. Those were some of the best times. I enjoyed meeting new people, talking with them, and serving them. I believe those are some of the same reasons I love teaching. I get to meet a new set of students each year. I get to know them and spend most of my day with them. Not only do I teach them academics but also I also teach them social skills, manners, and life skills. In teaching you become close with your students, the same is true for working in a restaurant.

If your teaching style had a theme song, what would it be?

“Honestly, this question had me stumped. After thinking about it for a while, I thought about ‘The Climb’ by Miley Cyrus…There are always times throughout your teaching career that you may feel like you will not succeed at teaching your students all of the academics and life skills that they need. Often, there are times that I feel lost on the best way to reach a certain student. Despite this, I have to keep trying and enter my classroom each day with a positive attitude. I try to enter my classroom each day with

my head high and not always focus on the end goal, but just take it day by day and enjoy

the journey with my students.”

What’s the most creative/unique project one of your classes has worked on?

“Several years ago, our reading coach at the time, Kim Garner, and I came up with a great way to get our new-found readers excited about reading books. While 1st-5th grade participated in the Accelerated Reader Program, kindergarten did not. We came up with a Kindergarten Celebrity Reader competition. With the help of Mrs. Garner and my fellow kindergarten teachers, we planned and implemented goals and rewards for our kindergarten students who listened to or read books and then answered comprehension questions about the books. Students earned points, received rewards, and at the end of the competition, the top five point earners from each class became a Celebrity Reader. Those students dressed in their red carpet attire, rode in a limousine, attended a special lunch, and walked the red carpet in front of their friends and family. We still implement this competition for our students, and it has become one of the most exciting events we do at HES.”

What’s the most rewarding part about your job?

“There are a number of rewarding parts of my job. I would say a few of the most rewarding parts are building relationships with my students and watching them grow exponentially in their academics in such a short time. I love teaching kindergarten because I still get to see and keep up with my students for the next five years. In addition to that, kindergarten students grow so much in such a short time. Some students come in knowing zero letter names and sounds and enter 1st-grade reading sentences on their own. It is amazing to witness all that these 5 and 6-year-old students can learn from August to May.”

What’s the most challenging part of your job?

I would say the most challenging part of the job is the diverse needs of all of my students. Every student needs something different each and every day.

What did it mean to you to be named your school’s teacher of the year? 

It was a huge honor. I have been teaching for 13 years, and this was my first time being named teacher of the year. One thing is for sure, though, I would not be the teacher I am without my co-workers. My fellow kindergarten teachers and I collaborate so well together. We bounce ideas off of each other and plan memorable activities and lessons for our students. We don’t do these things for acknowledgment, but it does feel nice to feel appreciated and to know that you have made a positive impact on not only your students but parents as well.

As your students transition to the next grade or graduate in May, what is one key takeaway you hope they carry forward from their time in your class?

I hope that my students know that they can always come back to me if they ever need anything. I hope that they always strive to make smart choices and know that I love them Like I said before, I love the fact that I can keep up with my students until they are in 5th grade. After that, it becomes more difficult. I enjoy running into former students around town and hearing all about what they have accomplished.