District News
Meet Holly James
November, 2010
On any given day at East Hill, you might
find Holly James reading to her second grade students
from a wooden rocking chair she brought from home. The chair sits on
a carpet in a small library she has arranged in her classroom. The
mini library is a popular place for her students. When they finish
their regular class work, they usually head to the library, grab a
book, and read quietly at their desk.
Mrs. James, currently in her first year as a full-time teacher in the district (she has been a long-term substitute), wanted to do something special for her students. That’s why she brought in the rocking chair. She even encouraged her husband to build a wooden bookshelf.
“I love kids. I worked in daycare for four years and I loved it,” she said. “I took it to the next level and became a teacher. They always make me smile and you never know what they’re going to say.”
A graduate of SUNY Oneonta, Mrs. James sticks to a teaching style that involves “reading it, watching it and doing it.”
“It helps with all the learners. If we’re studying something, we read about it and I try to show examples to all of them,” she said. “Right now, we’re learning about communities and being a good citizen. So every student has a job. We have a banker, secretary and we’re going to have a mayor.”
Mrs. James’ classroom brims with color and lots
of creative touches. She’s hung a “word bug” over the blackboard and
arranged her students’ desks like the seats on an airplane.
Her dedication is already paying off.
Mrs. James keeps a folder of all the nice notes from parents. Many say they’re happy sending their children to her every morning. “They tell me they feel safe knowing I’m on the other end when they send them to school,” she said.
In her free time, Mrs. James and her husband, Paul, like to scuba dive, camp, kayak, and watch hockey. In the summer, they’ll often take their motorcycles for a ride.
She said she loves the district because everyone is “wonderful and works together.”
“They’re extremely supportive here,” she said. “I
love what I do and I can’t believe I’m getting paid to do what I
love.”
Five Facts
Favorite book: Anne of Green Gables
Favorite movie: Anne of Green Gables
Favorite singer: Reba McEntire
Best cafeteria food: pizza
Favorite subject in school: reading