Wow! I had an opportunity to interview Erin Cornell, a special education teacher at Bellevue Elementary in North Carolina. Erin is a Port Jervis High School graduate, and I was fortunate enough to be her Principal many years ago.
She blew me away in our interview. Her heart and passion for helping students are amazing, but it’s even more profound for those who need an extra special hand. Erin shined bright in the interview, and her love and passion for the kids are what really stand out. You can watch/listen to the interview here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11pSZ3Tt1A8
But how can you measure this? How can you measure someone’s heart? Erin talked about all the teachers and all of the special people along the way. She also talked about Port Jervis as a whole, which helped her develop and showed her characteristics of being an effective and caring educator. We saw these bright spots in Erin as a teenager, but wow, have they manifested themselves now. She’s taking everything she’s learned and putting it into action, being a force of love, care, and support for her students. She meets them where they are and builds authentic, meaningful relationships. She also works hard to ensure inclusivity for her kids, inviting others into her classroom and bringing her students to be involved in both the school and the community.
Amidst the criticisms of the education system, it’s a joy to spotlight a young educator who is making a difference. In only her second year of teaching, Erin was voted ‘Rookie of the Year’ by her peers. Her classroom has become a model for others, with educators from surrounding areas going to see her teaching methods in action.
Erin: Principals don’t get bonuses for our work, but seeing you flourish as an educator and helping those children is the best bonus we could ever have. I wish you the best on your journey, and keep surviving and thriving!
Keep rolling, friends. Please pass this blog on to a young educator. They are the future of education, and Erin shows they can make an incredible impact! #SurviveThrive.
