Stockwell does her best to help all students find success
Katy Stockwell is in her 20th year of teaching in the East Holmes Local School District. She is an intervention specialist at Berlin Elementary.
Katy Stockwell had the opportunity to give up recess while she was a sixth-grade student to help in the special needs preschool at Walnut Creek Elementary.
She enjoyed working with the students so much that from that point forward, she knew she wanted to become a special education teacher. Learning also came easy for Stockwell, who watched others struggle.
“I wanted to do what I could to make sure all find success,” said Stockwell, an intervention specialist at Berlin Elementary.
Stockwell has taught in the East Holmes Local School District for 20 years. Her favorite memories involve all the out-of-the-ordinary projects she’s been able to do over the years, such as community day or cooking projects.
Getting to work with students for multiple years has been the most rewarding part of her job.
“It is so rewarding to point out to them how much progress they have made over the years,” she said. “It’s about celebrating the progress, no matter how big or small the progress is.”
When Stockwell began her teaching career, she didn’t realize how many positive relationships she would build with her fellow staff members.
“Some of my best friends are people who I worked with in the past or currently work with,” she said. “I am blessed to teach with an amazing staff who I can do life with.”
Stockwell’s teaching days are jam-packed from start to finish.
“On a day-to-day basis, I not only teach, write IEPs and monitor IEP goals, but I also support the teachers I work with,” she said. “To the students, I am a teacher, counselor, problem-solver, cheerleader, seamstress, at times a nurse and whatever else comes up. I’m going a mile a minute from the time I step in the door until the time I go home.”
Stockwell participated in volleyball, softball, choir and National Honor Society when she was a student. When she’s not teaching, she stays busy with her three school-age daughters’ activities. She also enjoys spending time with family, hiking, gardening, traveling and reading.
“Teaching is immensely hard on a day-to-day basis,” Stockwell said. “But I truly believe that God has me in this role for a reason. I’m thankful for the opportunities that I have or have had to love the students who come into my classroom.
“It is only through Jesus that I am able to do this job.”
“Teacher Spotlight” is a feature on a teacher in the East Holmes or West Holmes school districts.