Volusia County teacher of week Jennifer Hughes
January 24th, 2008, 4:10 am Hobby Shops
Reason for teaching: Until August 2004, I was a juvenile probation officer. I had been in that field for 10 years, preparing myself for management. My daughter has Aicardi syndrome and is profoundly disabled. I lost her after-school day-care provider and decided that the only way this was going to work was to have the same working hours as her school hours. The only way to do that was to be a teacher. My associate of arts degree was in elementary education, so I had a head start. I took the ESE state certification test and passed. I started my career as a teacher in August 2004. I have the perspective of seeing through my students’ parents‘ eyes because I am a parent of a child with disabilities. Greatest moment as a teacher: How do I pick just one? My students are so unique, and each time they accomplish something, no matter how small, it is a great moment for me. One moment, I guess, that sticks in my mind is when one of my students with autism noticed my hair. I have straight hair and had gotten a perm. He looked up at me and said, “Your hair is curly.” It was great. Least favorite part of teaching: Changing dirty diapers. Person you admire most and why: My grandmother, Leveta Wright. She taught me to be strong. She instilled in me that my education was something that no one could ever take away from me. Favorite movies: Dirty Dancing, Moulin Rouge, Urban Cowboy Last book you read: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon. Hobbies: I really don’t have time right now to have a hobby. I am an active soccer mom. I take my son to practice twice a week and then to games on the weekend. I also take my daughter to therapy three times per week. Then, in my spare time, I am going to UCF for my master’s degree and doing homework. If you weren’t a teacher, what career would you choose? I would probably be a school administrator. Was there a special teacher that you remember? Mrs. Swygert, my second-grade teacher at Child Enrichment Center at the United Methodist Church in Bartow. I remember her vividly. She had me read an excerpt from The Velveteen Rabbit in her wedding. Jennifer Hughes was nominated by Monica Grayson, a student’s parent. Volusia public- and private-school teachers will be profiled throughout the year. E-mail Eileen Marie Simoneau at vteachspot@mac.com or call her at 386-561-7356 or fax 386-851-7918. Include your name, phone number and a reason why you would like to see this teacher profiled. PHOTO: Jennifer Hughes sings with student Grayson Graves at Deltona Lakes Elementary in December. Hughes teaches 2nd- to 4th-graders with moderate to severe disabilities. She is pursuing a master’s degree at the University of Central Florida. EILEEN MARIE SIMONEAU/SPECIAL TO THE SENTINEL
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