April Larremore has been a kindergarten teacher for 14 years in Grand Prairie, Texas, and she loves her job. She is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in early childhood education, with a minor in curriculum and instruction. She graduated with a master's degree in curriculum education in 2008 from North Texas University. After completing her doctorate degree, she plans to mentor other teachers in the field or move up to higher education (university level) to train education students. For more information, be sure to read her blog, Chalk Talk: Teaching Ideas and Tips for Early Childhood Teachers.

Why did you decide to pursue a career as a teacher? Did you always know you wanted to teach?
I did not always know that I wanted to teach. I grew up thinking I wanted to be a nurse. My mom went back to college after my sisters and I were grown. She went back to school to be a teacher and I liked the things she was doing in her classes. I also loved kids and had done a lot of babysitting and working in day cares and preschools while I was in high school and early college so I knew I liked being in a school setting.

What type of preparation did you do to get into this field, such as educational experience and work experience?
I got a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies. I also have a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction, and I am currently working on my doctorate in early childhood studies with a minor in curriculum and instruction. I also worked in a day care/private school all through high school and early college.

If your education was directly related to your career, what types of classes and projects did you have to do in school?
All of my classes have been education focused since that was what my degree was in. I had a lot of classes that focused on lesson planning, classroom management and instructional strategies. I have had a lot of early childhood classes. They focused on working with children birth through age 8. I spent a lot of hours in observation in public school classrooms. I did model lessons, planned units and read all sorts of books as part of projects.

How did your education help you in your career?
My education provided me a solid foundation to build my career on. While it did not prepare me for everything I have faced in the classroom, it did provide me with a lot of background for where to start.

What was your career path like in this field? For example, did you begin in one position and advance through others to reach where you are now?
I taught kindergarten for 14 years. I started out as just a team member, but after several years, I moved up to the team leader. Over time, I became the head of several committees because of my expertise and years of experience. This year, I became a K-1 facilitator for my district. I now work with kindergarten and first grade teachers all over the district. I moved from a teacher role to more of a leadership position.

What types of skills is someone required to have to work in your position? What would you say is the most important skill?
I had to have a four-year degree in education and a variety of education certifications. I think that now they have emergency certification where people have a degree in another field, but take a certification test to become a teacher. While experience in the classroom is not a requirement, I believe that it is valuable to the job. I think student teaching is a very important prerequisite to going to work in the classroom. While it does not prepare you for everything, it exposes you to a lot and helps you work through a variety of situations while under the guidance of a skilled teacher.

What do you do on a typical workday?
My day as a strategist is much different than it was as a classroom teacher. I do a few of the same things every day though. I model lessons for kindergarten and first grade teachers. I observe kindergarten and first grade teachers and debrief with them about what I saw, their strengths and ways they can improve. I provide teacher trainings in a variety of areas. I also brainstorm with teachers on ways to help struggling students or to teach difficult concepts.

Do you plan to advance to another position within your career field? If so, to what position and why?
Once I finish my doctorate, I plan to move to the college level and teach education students. I love helping teachers. I love passing on all that I know to them. That is why I want to move to the university level to teach.

What type of person do you think is best suited for a job in your field?
Someone who loves kids and is a hard worker. Being a good teacher takes a lot of work. You need to be willing to put forth the effort and do whatever it takes to reach all of your students. You also need to love them all as if they were your own and sometimes that is hard. You need to be a lifelong learner. Education is always changing. You need to be willing to change with it.

Do you have any advice for those who are looking to launch a career in your field?
If you are interested in a 9 to 5 job, then this is not the one for you. Be ready to work hard and you will reap the rewards every time you see the light bulb go on in one of your students. The hard work is worth it.