Elana Sims. Photography by Kathy Tran.
SIMS IS FROM SEATTLE, and she moved to Dallas four years ago, after completing a master’s degree, for a change of pace. She says she loves it here. The 34-year-old teaches special education and previously worked in early childcare.
How she knew she wanted to become a teacher
I knew in elementary school. My teachers had a huge impact on me, and I knew right away that I wanted to provide that same experience for others.
Why she chose special education
The lack of compassion, acceptance and understanding I personally saw while working with children in this area is the No. 1 reason I chose this. As a childcare director, I received calls from parents who were desperate for a program that would accept and could handle their children. On one occasion, my superiors made the decision that a child with autism was not able to be served by us. I disagreed, but my opinion had no weight in the decision. On another occasion and in a different location, there was a child in kindergarten who had diabetes. I encountered a very distraught parent who was desperately looking for care for her child. When I told her we could accept him, she didn’t believe it. She continuously verified over a few days. We eventually received her child, and he was such a light and joy to have in our program. There will always be people who can’t see past a “disability.” However, you’ll also have those of us who embrace it.
What’s special or challenging about teaching middle school
There is a level of understanding from both the student and the teacher that allows relationship building. Middle school students are looking for teachers who understand them and will also listen to them. Middle school students are still learning a lot about themselves, so the challenge here is for teachers to recognize and embrace that. We may develop a solid relationship with students, but it’s important to remember that these students are still developing relationships with themselves and their peers.
What’s unique about her classroom
My classroom is calm and welcoming. I’ve established structure and discipline over the years, and that has created a great environment for my students and anyone visiting my classroom. We learn, we have fun and can 100% be ourselves.
Misconceptions people have about teaching
The public doesn’t see the full scope of what we do, so they base their opinions of teachers on what they hear in the media. If the parents of my students were given a platform, the public would clearly see just how much teachers work with parents and how we navigate the education world together. The other misconception is that we don’t work hard because we have summers off.
Advice for parents of middle school kids
Reach out to your child’s teacher prior to entering middle school. Attend the transition nights and ask questions. Middle school is very different from elementary school. It can be a shock for students and their parents.
A favorite moment in teaching
Any time parents and students express their gratitude. I recently had a parent tell me that her son is “super lucky to have you as his teacher.” These acknowledgements can turn a not-so-great day into a great day!
