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Amplified: The Chesapeake Public Schools Podcast
Our podcast serves as a platform to share the voices and stories of our people - our learners and employees - who shape the vision of Chesapeake Public Schools. This podcast provides our community with a unique insight into district operations, demonstrating how the division creates opportunities, prioritizes innovation, and elevates potential. New episodes are released monthly and feature a wide range of topics, including student achievements, innovative teaching practices, community partnerships, and important district initiatives. You can listen to the stories behind our story by subscribing on your favorite podcast platforms or by visiting cpschools.com/amplified.
Amplified: The Chesapeake Public Schools Podcast
Honoring Our Champions in Teaching
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Our teachers are world-class educators who inspire, engage, and empower all learners to achieve their highest potential! There is no competition...our teachers take the gold!
It's Teacher Appreciation Week, and in this episode, we are joined by our Chesapeake Teacher of the Year, Alyssa May! Alyssa is a second-grade teacher at Butts Road Primary and she shares her incredible story with us. It is one of dedication, heart, and the transformative power of education. Alyssa discusses her personal approach to teaching, creating a classroom atmosphere where kids learn through experience, and why integrating social-emotional learning is key to student development. Join us, in celebrating all of our teachers, who are "Gold Medal Educators!"
Don't forget to give a note to a teacher showing your support and how they have helped shape your child's future, or remind them of a gold medal moment.
The Stories Behind Our Story
Teacher Appreciation
Speaker 1What I love about Mrs May is because she is so positive and she is so kind . She's one of the most generous people I've known , the nicest person I know . Everything about her is just great . She's really sweet and she can understand if you're telling her something about your feelings or something she can understand and she's really patient . And she loves Taylor Swift and people sing with her too . She always makes learning fun for us and she's very kind . She like always makes these like fun activities for us . She helps us whenever we need help . When I'm in class , I feel really happy . You have a very kind heart and you're really beautiful . We love you , Ms May .
Speaker 2Those were second grade students from Butts Road Primary who happen to be students of our guest on this episode . Welcome to Amplified the Chesapeake Public Schools podcast .
Speaker 3Chesapeake Schools is located in the Hampton Roads area of southeastern Virginia . We serve 40,000 students in 45 schools and three centers . This podcast is designed to tell the stories behind our story and to introduce and celebrate the people and programs that make us one of the premier school districts in Virginia .
Speaker 2Hey everyone , this is Matt Graham here with Richie Babb .
Speaker 3And you know , matt , we are celebrating . It's May and we're celebrating a lot of things , but one of the things we're celebrating is Teacher Appreciation .
Speaker 2That's right . May 6th through May 10th is Teacher Appreciation Week . Weren't you a teacher ? I was . Weren't you a teacher ? I was , I was a teacher , I don't think we're being celebrated , though . No , it's all about the current teachers .
Speaker 3People out there in the field in the classroom boots on the ground .
Speaker 2That's right Boots on the ground , no doubt . So today we brought in an exceptional teacher . We brought in our district-wide teacher of the year , alyssa May , and we also want to make sure to give a huge shout out and a token of appreciation to all of our teachers .
Speaker 3Yeah , you know , matt , we really would be great if we could talk to every single teacher out there , right , but that's a long show . So talking to Alyssa May today is our way really of celebrating all of our teachers . You know , our premise is the stories behind our story , and every teacher in every classroom has a story and they are the stories behind our story . Stories behind our story . Well , welcome to Amplify the Chesapeake Public Schools podcast . I'm Richie Babb here with Matt Graham , and we are thrilled to be here today with the inaugural very first amplifier Amplifier .
Speaker 3Amplifier who is now what we're calling our fandom ? Yes , At the suggestion of this guest . I was excited about it anyway . But when this guest came in , the energy that she exudes . You're going to love this episode , so you stick right there . Lights up the room Right lights up the room and that person is Alyssa May , our 2023-24 Teacher of the Year , overall Teacher of the Year from Butch Road Primary and she teaches second grade . Alyssa , welcome on the program .
Speaker 4Thank you so much . I am a longtime listener , first-time caller . I love the Amplified podcast . Thank you for having me , absolutely Thank you for being here , Wow .
Speaker 3You know , we may have to shut it down after this , because I'm not sure it's going to get any better . You peaked Right . Yeah , exactly so now . So let's talk about District Teacher of the Year . Congratulations , first of all .
Speaker 4Thank you .
Speaker 3What was that like ? And also , what's your favorite moment in being Teacher of the Year . What's your favorite thing that's happened as a result of that ?
Speaker 4Yeah . So being there at the ceremony , first of all , they do an amazing job just making it so special for the people who are nominated and who are there that I was just in awe the whole time . And then you have some time before we go out on the stage and you know , get recognized . And you know , get recognized and I got to know the other people who were there and you kind of get to chat and talk a little bit about who's from what school and get to know them and just talking to them I'm like , okay , it's been a good run , this has been fun , but like these people are amazing .
Speaker 4And they've been doing this for so long and they have so much experience that I totally did not think I had a shot . But it was quite shocking for sure to be called , and I just remember the support of the people around me the other Teacher of the Year nominees and so many people from my school and my family showed up for me that that definitely was such a special moment . I kind of blacked out a little bit as it was happening , but it just really it's one of those moments that'll live rent-free in your brain forever . Rent-free , yeah .
Speaker 3I love it
Teacher Passion for Experiential Learning
Speaker 3. So now give us a little background on yourself , as you know , being an amplifier we like to start getting to know our guests . So tell us about yourself . Where are you from , where did you go to college ? That kind of stuff .
Speaker 4Yeah , I was born and raised in central New Jersey . I'm a Jersey girl through and through , and then I went to college , at JMU , and when I was at JMU I met my now husband and he's from Texas . So neither of us are from Virginia originally . We kind of adopted the state of Virginia as our home .
Speaker 3That's a good move .
Speaker 4Yeah , you know what it's been treating me pretty well .
Speaker 1Yeah , yeah , how do I say Like ?
Speaker 4it so far . So after college we moved to the Washington DC area and I taught in Fairfax County for about four years .
Speaker 3Okay .
Speaker 4Had an amazing experience there , fairfax County , for about four years , had an amazing experience there and then we moved to Norfolk in February of 2021 . I was so lucky to get a job at Butts Road Primary in the middle of the year . I always call it that it was like fate , because a teacher was leaving second grade special education inclusion position because her husband was in the military . That was what I had taught in Fairfax , and finding a job in the middle of the year is so crazy that it was just serendipitous that it happened that way .
Speaker 3Nice vocabulary too , by the way . Thank you , Of course .
Speaker 2Teacher of the year .
Speaker 3She teaches second graders that's not on their vocabulary list , Matt .
Speaker 4Listen , we've got to teach them sometime . That's true , that's right .
Speaker 2Exactly . Word of the week .
Speaker 4Yes , so I've lived here ever since and I've really enjoyed it .
Speaker 3Nice , very nice .
Speaker 2Yeah . So , alyssa , you stated your passion for teaching was ignited by the influence of great teachers during your school days , so can you tell us a little bit about that ?
Speaker 4Yeah , I was so lucky growing up . I feel like I just had the most amazing teachers and I don't feel like I was always the easiest student . I had a lot of anxiety around going to school , I had a lot of nervousness , I was a real perfectionist and it just every day for me was a struggle to be at school because I just wanted to do so well and I put so much pressure on myself . And it was when my teachers made learning not feel like a task or a checklist and made it an experience and fun Right that I was able to feel like free at school , free of those chains of anxiety . So two of my favorite teachers growing up were Miss Orlando , fifth grade , miss Wildman , second grade , and I just can , even to this day , recall those things that they did that made me feel like we were in an experience .
Speaker 4We weren't in school we were doing something magical , and that really is what I always strive to create for my students . I always use the word magic because it just like lifted those chains off of me .
Speaker 2Wow , dr Galford , your principal , who was my actual fifth grade teacher , did you know that . Did you know that she was my fifth grade ?
Speaker 4teacher . That's why you're so smart .
Speaker 2Yeah , okay , richie might say something different , I wouldn't say it . And we taught together at Greenbrier Middle School for some time . Yeah , we did , we did . Yes , she's awesome . But she said that you have a natural talent for teaching . Can you tell us what your classroom is like ? You already sort of mentioned it a little bit . I know you do some project-based learning . What's that classroom environment like ?
Speaker 4Yeah , I really pride my classroom on kind of two things . I try to incorporate a lot of social emotional learning and project-based learning , and I think they really do go hand in hand . I think that , you know , on the social emotional learning side and the social skills side , I do teach in an inclusion setting . So teaching those social skills to some of my students is just really foundational for them . And then for the gen ed students who are in there , it also gives them an opportunity to realize how to work with everybody and that's really what real life is .
Speaker 4We work with all different types of people every day . So I'm trying to set those foundations for them early . But I also strive to make the learning experiential for them and just every day something new and something that they can take into their real life . They're not always going to remember exactly every detail about the Powhatan Native American tribe , but they might remember it a little better and a little stronger when they've had to build something to represent it or just have that memory of you know doing that and working collaboratively and using those skills . So we try to really make it more of an experience than a sit and do , and it's definitely more student-centered . They're leading their own learning , that's great , great .
Speaker 3And you know I don't think about those kinds of things starting as early as second grade , but they probably need it as much or more than any other age student , right .
Speaker 4Oh yeah .
Speaker 2Can you clear up I'm going to deviate a little bit . Sure , can you clear up maybe some misconceptions out there about teaching , like what's the workload like ?
Speaker 4there about teaching . Like what's the workload ? Like , yeah , so one of the biggest misconceptions that I think about teaching is people say you get out at 2 pm and you have summers off , like this is a breeze and in some ways we are really lucky with that . You know , in some ways I love having that . I do have a lot of flexibilities in the summer . If I do have a doctor's appointment at 2.30 pm , I am lucky enough that I can do that , but a lot of times it really is more than that .
Teacher's Daily Life
Speaker 4So a day in my life I get to school about 30 minutes before our bell rings . I get about 40 minutes .
Speaker 3So what time is that ?
Speaker 46.30 .
Speaker 3Okay .
Speaker 4Yeah , that's when I get to school , the students we have to clock in at 7.10 and the students get there at 7.15 . So about 30 to 40 minutes to myself to find my zen . And then we get a 40 minute planning block a day , which we're really lucky to have . But we don't always get the whole time to plan what people think we're planning , we're working collaboratively , we're attending meetings , things like that , and then after school I work really hard personally to not take work home with me . So I'm lucky enough just the point I'm in in my life . I don't have children . I work for like two to three hours a day after school and then I leave it . I very rarely take my Chromebook home . I just leave it plugged in my desk because it'll be there tomorrow . But another beautiful thing about teaching is you do have that flexibility . If you have to leave at 2.30 to take care of your children , you can take that work home with you , so then you're in the building until five or six o'clock at times .
Speaker 3Sometimes , yeah , sometimes right yeah .
Speaker 2Yeah , and you do other things as well , like what are some of your other responsibilities ? Because I know you're not just teaching right , you're like an MTSS coach .
Speaker 4Yes , I'm an MTSS coach . I'm the grade level chair . I am the environment committee chair . I'm probably missing some other thing that I signed up for and forgot about , just so people know , tell us what an MTSS chair is .
Speaker 4Yeah , so MTSS stands for Multi-Tiered Systems of Support and it's basically interventions and ways to help all students tiers one , two and three in academics , behavior and attendance . So just helping the teachers and the staff make sure that we're addressing the needs of all attendance . So just helping the teachers and the staff make sure that we're addressing the needs of all students .
Speaker 3So you talk about people say oh , you get summers off , how do you spend your summers ?
Speaker 4Oh yeah , I love summer . It's my favorite season . I say definitely a mix of work and play . I still do work over the summer . I actually work for the district . I do curriculum writing for the social studies department and that's definitely something I'm really passionate about . I really enjoy doing that . In the past two summers I have also taught for the enrichment program for summer school and I've had a lot of fun with that . You get a lot of creativity with the planning with that . It's really , really rewarding . I also have attended different meetings and conferences for the district throughout the summer , so you always have work a little bit on your plate in the summer , but being a teacher is really rewarding for the fact that you do get some free time in the summer .
Speaker 4So I spend a lot of time at the beach , a lot of reading , I go on walks and I visit my niece and nephew a lot . They are super darling . They are three and five . Hi Goldie , Hi Redford .
Speaker 2They're amplifiers too , they are totally amplifiers .
Speaker 4But something I always like to point out about teaching is people say oh , you only work 10 months out of the year . I kind of think that we are doing a 12-month job in a 10-month period .
Speaker 3Right , yeah , that's well said . Yeah , definitely . So . You mentioned the word rewarding and you talked about having that time in the summer , but I'm quite sure that's not your primary reason for teaching what is rewarding . I mean , what are other things that are rewarding for you in your job ?
Speaker 4I would say the most rewarding thing is the social piece of it . Especially the age that I teach , I think that they're really starting to learn how to navigate themselves and other people and seeing them form friendships , understand what conflict is and how to try to work through it and solve it , learning those foundational social skills . Just watching that growth from the beginning of the year to the end of the year , I see so much change in them and I feel like I leave them like little citizens of the world , like they're ready to really interact with one another . They have confidence and that , you know , that is a greater lesson than anything I could teach them , so being able to send them off with that .
Speaker 2Wow . And on this other side , though , what is maybe the toughest part of teaching ?
Speaker 4That is a good question . I would say two things . Definitely the personal piece , like there are some students who you really personally worry about and carry with you .
Speaker 4Right eating dinner . Like are they ? Are their basic needs being met ? And I ? That keeps me up at night , for sure . And and the other piece is a little on a smaller scale there are so many decisions teachers make in a day I think I read somewhere it's like 1500 in a day and they're little things like yes , you can go to the bathroom . No , you're not getting water right now . Actually , we're going to do this side of the sheet instead of that sheet , things like that , that I wake up often in the middle of the night like I totally forgot to tell that student they could go to the nurse or something like that so little things fall through the cracks .
Speaker 2Yeah , right . What would you say to someone that's interested in education ? Right , they're thinking , hey , is this the career path I want to go ? What would you tell them ?
Speaker 4Yeah , I think I would tell them , obviously do it .
Speaker 2Just do it , like just go , just do it .
Speaker 4Yeah .
Speaker 3Well , maybe not in every case .
Speaker 4There may be some people you would say oh , maybe I would vet them first , maybe not .
Speaker 4Maybe not some people you would say , oh , maybe I would vet them first , maybe not , maybe not . I would say , do it , but only if you really love it . Right , it is really what you make of it . If it's a job that you want to be just your job , where you work a nine to five and you go in , go out , work your contract hours and clock out , you could realistically do that . But it probably wouldn't be really fun for you , it probably wouldn't be really fulfilling for the kid .
Speaker 4So , if it's something you want to do , absolutely do it , but you have to be committed to doing it right and giving it your all .
Speaker 2And that's true for like any job , right ? I mean seriously , that's just good advice all around .
Speaker 3Yeah , so you know , I was an English teacher and I love stories . Do you have any stories that reflect what teaching's like or how it's rewarding ?
Speaker 4Yeah , Great , Of course . Well , a day in the life , I mean , it really is probably what people expect . The things that come out of my mouth as a second grade teacher are just things that I'm like . I never thought that collection of words would go together such as don't do karate in the bathroom . That's one of my favorite lines .
Speaker 3But a very good that's very good advice .
Speaker 4But useful across aspects of life .
Speaker 2in case you needed that reminder , that's something that I know is going to happen with my son .
Speaker 3No doubt , no doubt , right yes .
Speaker 4But her Taekwondo instructor did tell her she needed to practice more , so I was up against a battle there . So , yes , I have things like that every day , just in the middle of me teaching , raising their hand . Did you know Chick-fil-A makes really good mac and cheese ? Yes , I did know .
Speaker 2Thank you so much .
Speaker 4Yeah , yes , thank you for letting me know , is my favorite line .
Speaker 3Thank you for letting me know . Yes , I'm going to use that . Yes , I think there's a lot of instances where I could use that yes .
Speaker 4My elbow hurts . Thank Distances where I could use that . Yeah , my elbow hurts . Thank you so much for letting me know . Yeah , yeah , right , but . I really think something magical about second graders is they are so super thoughtful , like they hang on to things that you have told them once 10 months ago and will bring that back up and make you feel so special and as we grow up I think that might be a quality we lose a little bit . I , at the beginning of the year , mentioned I'm a Swifty huge , swifty big Taylor .
Speaker 2Swift fan Taylor , if you're listening , so you watch the Super Bowl for Swifty . I watch the .
Speaker 4Super Bowl for everyone to have fun . I hope everyone have fun , but I'm so glad that Travis Kelsey won and I hope that him and Taylor Swift get married .
Speaker 1And live a happy , beautiful life together .
Speaker 2I'm sorry .
Speaker 3That is such a nice wish for you . Yeah , that's nice .
Speaker 4Thank you for letting me know , yeah .
Speaker 2That's what you're thinking .
Speaker 3I know .
Speaker 4But I mentioned that I like Taylor Swift at the beginning of the year and I'll bring her up once in a while in a lesson and , you know , give an example of something . And for Christmas this year , one of my kids drew me the most detailed picture of me and Taylor Swift , sweet , and it's me . Hi , I'm the teacher , it's me . They're so creative , they're so creative , they're so thoughtful and those little things that you tell them they bring back up . So I love how they listen and make you feel so special .
Speaker 3That's awesome . Now you said you were in Fairfax for four years . How long have you been in Chesapeake ?
Speaker 4About three and a half .
Speaker 3Okay , all right . So where do you see yourself in 10 years from now ?
Speaker 4I don't ever see myself leaving education . I really just think this is my passion and where I belong .
Speaker 2Good for us . Thank you , yeah , please don't leave .
Transitioning Into Curriculum Development
Speaker 4But I would like to maybe one day shift into more of a curriculum development role . I've done work , as I said , with the social studies department in curriculum writing and I've just loved that . I love making learning experiential for students and in my curriculum writing I've gotten to share that with other educators and I feel like that's where I've made so much impact . Now , not just my 23 students are getting to do that hands-on learning , now all the students in second grade in Chesapeake are getting to do that learning , and that , to me , is just so cool .
Speaker 4So , something along those lines is kind of where I see my future . Yeah .
Speaker 2Wow .
Speaker 3Well , I got to tell you it has been an absolute pleasure to talk to you . Your energy , your optimism is effective and I feel like I've caught it actually . But thank you so much and we wish you the best and your second grade . I hope your second grade kids and their families realize how lucky they are Absolutely Thank you .
Speaker 4Thank you Go Amplified .
