Interviewer: Emily Davis

Interviewee: Catherine Davis, Kindergarten Teacher

Relationship: Mother
Date: Saturday May 31
st
, 2014
Time: 3:30
Type of Interview: Phone Call

Interview

E: When did you decide you wanted to be a teacher?

C: I was kind of like you, in college, and I made up my mind. I think what made me
decide to do Special ED was that I was a counselor at a camp called Camp-Easter in the
Pines and I worked with physically and mentally handicapped kids.

E: What was your major coming out of college?

C: Special Education.

E: Did you get a job right away?

C: Yes I did. I got a job in the Asheboro City Schools at Lindley Park Elementary in
Special ED.

E: How many schools have you worked at?

C: I have worked at 3. Lindley Park Elementary, Cash Elementary, and Vienna
Elementary. I taught K-5 EMD class for 3 years at Cash Elementary and then
kindergarten because the principal asked me if I wanted to and I agreed because I was
discouraged by all the paperwork that was involved with EC children, so I wanted to try
the regular classroom. I am currently at Vienna Elementary school teaching kindergarten.

E: How many grades have you taught?

C: Special ED K-1, EMD K-5 and kindergarten

E: How many years have you been teaching?

C: 30 years

E: Do you like being a teacher?

C: Yes I do. I do not regret it at all!

E: What is your favorite part about teaching?

C: I do enjoy making the kids happyI really enjoy that! I also love helping them
realize what they are able to do.

E: What is your least favorite part about teaching?

C: When I have to talk to parents who are not supportive and having to tell the parents
that their child is having difficulty in the classroom.

E: How much writing do you do as a teacher?

C: A lot of writing!

E: What types of documents to you write?

C: Lesson plans, report cards, emails to parents and staff, newsletters to parents, interim
reports, which is what they get in between report cards, thank you notes, worksheets,
teaching materials, Promethean Board lessons, unpacking standards, which is planning
how to teach a certain subject, and more!

E: What are the purposes of the documents you write?

C: Parent-teacher communication, staff-teacher communication, student learning, and
for staff development, for our workshops, and other purposes.

E: Do the documents have different purposes?

C: Yes.

E: What documents have you followed in order to know what to teach the students?

C: Basic Education Plan, North Carolina Standard Course of Study, and Common Core.
The expectations are higher in Common Core.

E: What types of technology do you use when creating the documents?

C: Computers, for word documents, Promethean lessons and emails, and handwritten.

E: Do you do some of this writing during your planning time?

C: Yes I do. I work with my kindergarten team sometimes to write lessons. We also
have time to write other things for our grade level planning and PLT meetings.

E: Have you ever been in a published document?

C: No, I havent, but my name was acknowledges in a Building Blocks for Teaching
Kindergarten book by Dr. Patricia Cunningham from Wake Forest University because I
have implemented some of her teaching strategies in my classroom.

E: How much do you get paid as a teacher?

C: I get paid about $60,000 per year after 30 years. That includes my extra pay for
having a masters degree and being having the National Boards Certification. I am not
sure what beginning teachers make, but it would be lower than what I am making since I
have more experience and other certifications.

E: Can you provide me with any other information about teaching?

C: You have to be very adaptable and open to change.
































Interview Notes

When did you decide you wanted to be a teacher?
I was kind of like you, in college and made up my mind. I think what made me
decide to do special ED was that I was a counselor at a camp called Camp Easter
in the Pines and I worked with physically and mentally handicapped kids.
What was you major coming out of college?
Special Education
Did you get a job right away?
Yes I did. In Asheboro City Schools at Lindley Park Elementary in Special ED
How many schools have you worked at?
I have worked at 3. Lindley Park, Cash (K-5 EMD class for 3 yrs, then
Kindergarten because the principal asked me if I wanted to and I agreed because I
was discouraged by all the paperwork that was involved with EC children, so I
wanted to try the regular classroom), Vienna (K)
What grades have you taught?
Special ED(K-1), EMD (K-5) and Kindergarten
How many years have you been teaching?
30 years
Do you like being a teacher?
Yes I do. I do not regret it at all
What is your favorite part about teaching?
I do enjoy making the kids happy. I really enjoy that! I also love helping them
realize what they are able to do.
What is your least favorite part about teaching?
When I have to talk to parents who are not supportive and having to tell parents
that their child is having difficulty in the classroom.
How much writing do you do as a teacher?
A lot of writing!!!
What types of documents do you write?
Lesson plans, report cards, emails to parents and staff, newsletters to parents,
interim reports (what they get in between report cards), thank you notes,
worksheets, teaching materials, promethean board lessons, unpacking
standards(planning how to teach math or la) and more!
What are the purposes of the documents you write?
Parent teacher staff communication, student learning, staff development
(workshops)
Do the documents have different purposes?
Yes
What types of technology do you use when creating the documents?
Computers (word documents, promethean, email) and hand written
Do you do some of this writing during your planning time?
Yes I do. I work with my Kindergarten team sometimes to write lessons. We also
have to write other things for our grade level planning and PLT meetings
Have you ever been in a published document?
No I havent, but my name was acknowledged in a building blocks for teaching
kindergarten book by Dr. Patricia Cunningham from WFU because I had
implemented some of her teaching strategies in my classroom
Can you provide me with any other information about teaching?
You have to be very adaptable and open to change
What documents have you followed in order to know what to teach the students?
Basic Education Plan, NCSCOS, Common Core (expectations are high)
How much do you get paid as a teacher?
About $60,000 per year after 30 years. That includes my extra pay for masters
degree and national board certification. Im not sure what beginning teachers make.