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On First Day of School, New Teachers Get Nervous Too

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Even educators can get back-to-school jitters. There are 27 teachers at Harrison Elementary School in Lexington, and this year ten of them are new. Some have taught at other schools, but for Jessica Waldvogel, it’s the very beginning of her teaching career. 

“A lot of things you don’t realize when you’re the main person in the classroom. I was kinda looking around for the adult to give the directions and then I realized that was me!”

Ms. Waldvogel comes from a family of teachers and now has a class of 4th graders to call her own.

“My brother and sister were my first students when I was little, I would make them play classroom with me. I think it’s something I always dreamed I would do and I’m just happy that today is finally the first day of it,” she says.

Harrison made huge academic gains over the past year, so many of its teachers were recruited to teach or coach at other schools, leaving Principal Tammie Franks with several vacancies to fill. She says most people don’t understand how difficult teaching can be.

“All day long there are at least 24 other beings in the classroom who need you, so your mind never gets to shut down all day.”

Classrooms at Harrison Elementary are ready for students .

That’s a challenge new teacher Amanda Klamo is ready for. She graduated from Georgetown College in May and is now teaching 3rd graders.

“I think it’s just important for me to know that it’s a learning experience and I’m not going to be perfect. I need to sometimes be like ‘it’s okay, you messed this up, how can you make it better next time.’”

Klamo says she’s looking forward to seeing her student --and her teaching skills-- grow throughout the school year.

Lexington native Brenna Angel anchored local morning newscasts for WUKY through May 13. She joined the station in March 2010 after previously working for WHAS-AM in Louisville.
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