Second Grade Adventures: Exploring Teaching and Building Connections with Claire Grisdela

 

In this episode of The Hornet Hive, hosted by Dr. Christopher Lewis, a member of the Williamson Community Schools Board of Education, the focus is on celebrating the dedicated educators within the Williamson school district. Dr. Lewis expresses his excitement about discussing both the positive news and the remarkable people who contribute to the district's educational excellence.

The featured guest for this episode is Claire Grisdela, a second-grade teacher at Discovery Elementary in Williamson. Claire shares her journey to Williamson, revealing that she grew up in Okemos, Michigan, and graduated from Okemos High School. After completing her education at Michigan State University, she desired to return to her hometown area and was delighted to join the Williamson school district.

Claire discusses her five-year tenure as a second-grade teacher at Discovery Elementary. She highlights the importance of the supportive and welcoming atmosphere provided by her colleagues and mentors during her early years as an educator. Claire acknowledges that her own experience with mentorship has now evolved into a role where she assists newer teachers, creating a supportive community within the district.

Dr. Lewis and Claire delve into the unique aspects of teaching second grade. Claire describes it as the "sweet spot" where students are confident in their reading abilities, and second graders are often considered leaders in their school, serving as role models for younger students.

The conversation then turns to the collaborative environment within Williamson's small district. Claire explains that grade-level meetings occur every other week, allowing teachers to align their curriculum and support one another. She also emphasizes the close-knit nature of the district, where everyone knows each other, fostering a sense of community and familiarity among staff members.

Claire shares her perspective on the rewarding aspect of teaching in a district with sibling connections. Seeing siblings grow up, graduate, and continue their education within the district creates meaningful and lasting connections with families.

Dr. Lewis expresses his gratitude to Claire for her dedication to educating young students and preparing them for their future educational journey. Claire's passion for teaching and commitment to building strong connections with students and families exemplifies the values of Williamson Community Schools.

The episode concludes with an expression of appreciation for educators like Claire who contribute to the success and positive culture of the Williamson school district.

 

 

Transcript

Christopher Lewis:

Welcome back to the Hornet Hive. I'm your host, Dr. Christopher Lewis, one of the members of the Williamson Community Schools Board of Education. Really excited to have you back again this week. This week, as always, I love being able to talk to you about the amazing things that are happening in our district, but also the amazing people that are within our district because it takes so many people to be able to provide our kids with an amazing education. And many times you get to meet some of them, but you don't always get to meet all of them. So it is always my pleasure when I get an opportunity to be able to talk with you and share some of the good news, some of the positive news and things that are happening within our district, in our district that you may or may not know about. But also, I love being able to introduce you to staff members that you may have met, but also ones that you may not have met. And that's what we're doing here this week. I'm going to be introducing you to another great staff member here in our district. Claire Grisdella is with us today, and Claire is a second grade teacher at Discovery elementary, and I'm really excited to be able to have her here and for her to share some of her own journey with us. Claire, thanks so much for being here today.

Claire Grisdela:

Thanks for having me.

Christopher Lewis:

It is my pleasure. I would love to turn the clock back a couple of years here, and I want to have you tell us what originally brought you to Williamston.

Claire Grisdela:

So I originally grew up in Okamas and graduated from Okamas High School, so just down the street from Williamston. And after graduating from Michigan State, I kind of wanted to come back to an area near my hometown, and I always said how I loved Williamston and the small town and the atmosphere. So when I applied for jobs, I was really hoping to get the call back from Williamston and happy that's where I landed.

Christopher Lewis:

So you've been in the district now for a couple of years. Talk to me about your experience so far, what's it been like to be a newer teacher and to make that transition into a classroom of your own with kids of your own, because I know that it is a transition and definitely something that you have to kind of work into. But tell us about what it's been like for you.

Claire Grisdela:

This is my fifth year, and right from college I went and came right to Williamson, and I've been in the same classroom second grade for my whole career so far. But definitely what helped are the people that are in the building and my colleagues definitely make it more enjoyable. And my first few years, I had a mentor teacher, so just a teacher in my grade level that I could go to and could support me in areas that I needed help with, so I just think that my colleagues and the people in the building definitely help you to feel welcomed. And now we have new teachers, so now I'm kind of in a different role in helping the newer teachers kind of get set up and support them.

Christopher Lewis:

What's it like being a mentor for new teachers now?

Claire Grisdela:

It's nice because we've all been in their shoes, so you're able to kind of find ways to support them and make them feel how you felt when you were in their spot. And then it just continues to evolve. And then you get the new teachers, and some teachers come in with prior teaching experience, some right out of college. So it's just fun to kind of learn everyone's teaching strategies and work together to build a good community.

Christopher Lewis:

You just said that you've been with the district now for five years, and you stayed in second grade for those five years. What is it about second grade that you love the most?

Claire Grisdela:

I like to call it the sweet spot. So students are pretty confident in reading and especially in discovery. To our students, they're the big kids in the school because it's a K two school. So I always tell them to be role models because they have the young fives kindergarten and first graders, so they're kind of the leaders of the school, and I think that's fun. It's kind of a challenge for them and they get to say the pledge in the morning and then you send them off to explore. And I like the transition and the curriculum and academics that I'm teaching every.

Christopher Lewis:

Now, you also said you wanted to be in a small district like this, and you've been in the same position you've been here now, like I said, for five years. What would you say has been the biggest part of sustaining you? What sustains you in your time here in the district and what makes Williamson a great place to work?

Claire Grisdela:

So, yeah, I think the small district really makes it enjoyable because when we're meeting for grade level or when we're meeting within the district, I mean, everyone's there, so it's not like there's another school with other second grade teachers. There are six second grade teachers and we're all there every day together, so I enjoy that as well as when we have our kickoff in the beginning of the year. Everyone is familiar with each other because there are only certain amount of rooms and space in our district, so it's kind of tight knit and everyone's familiar faces in the district. And I think that really makes it.

Christopher Lewis:

Special with the fact that you have all your second grade teachers, you could really get to know each other, I'm sure that there is some ability to be able to work closely together and collaboration, I would guess, inevitably occurs. Talk to me about that type of collaboration and how that plays out, where you get to work with other second grade teachers on collaborative goals.

Claire Grisdela:

Yeah. So every other week we have a grade level meeting, so we all meet together and sit down and kind of make sure we're on the right pace for our curriculum and just make sure that we're supporting each other the best that we can. Then we kind of just roll with our curriculum and continue to check in with each other. And obviously we're outside on the playground with each other several times a day, so that's a great way for us to be able to communicate and support each other, too. As busy as it is, half the time, I feel like we're all just in our rooms all day, but we definitely make an effort to see each other and to be there for one another.

Christopher Lewis:

Every teacher I've ever met is a storyteller, and there are stories that sustain you. There are kids that you reflect on and remind you of why you are a teacher. Is there a story for you that really epitomizes the experience that you've had as a Williamson staff member?

Claire Grisdela:

Yes. So I have always wanted to be a teacher. I was one of those kids that said I wanted to be a teacher, and here I am. My mom and my grandma were both elementary teachers, so I just feel like it was in my blood. I think one thing that I enjoy about Williamson is that you have these sibling connections. So you'll have one sibling and then a few years later have another. So you're building these connections with these families, and you're seeing these parents year after year, and I just think that's special. And being able to see that connection of even as they're in fifth grade and explore, you still see them in the hallways. And I just think building that connection and seeing these kids grow up is what makes it all worth it.

Christopher Lewis:

Oh, Claire, I just want to say thank you. Thank you for everything that you're doing to help our young second graders to prepare themselves for Explorer elementary and getting them ready to move onward and upward and in their educational goals. And I wish you all the best.

Claire Grisdela:

Thank you.