NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Michelle Guthrie from Reno County Head Start is the Allen Samuels CDJR Teacher of the Month. She finds working with preschoolers and their families to get them ready for kindergarten very rewarding.
"I absolutely love my program," Guthrie said. "I get to work with, not only all the kids, but I get to work with their families. I love that piece because they help me as much as I help them and then, the child is just the one who benefits from that team."
For Guthrie, the key to kindergarten readiness is being able to get learning across, by any means necessary.
"We're the dancing class," Guthrie said. "We dance, we do all kinds of things. We run around. We do whatever it takes. Learning is in their play. The more you play, the more they learn."
It really starts with making Head Start a place kids want to be.
"My goal every day is to take a child who may not have security and safety and I bring them into the classroom," Guthrie said. "I help them learn how to sit. I help them learn how to be a good friend. I help them have the social skills to go into kindergarten. If I get the alphabet and the letters and the numbers in there, then that's my bonus. I'm not sure everybody sees it as that, but if I've helped a child have a love for school, then they will learn it, and they do."
Samantha Ratley nominated Guthrie for the award. Part of her entry said, "I believe that she deserves this award because of her hard work, dedication and drive to always do better."
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