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"Every child deserves a champion — an adult who will never give up on them, who understands the power of connection, and insists that they become the best that they can possibly be." - Rita Pierson
 * Philosophy:**

I would like to take this opportunity and introduce myself. I have been married seventeen years to Patrick Gates. We have two boys, Eric, who is 17 years old and Seth, who is 15 years old. I am and have always been very active in my children's extra-curricular activities such as PTO Vice President, Young Marines Paymaster and Adult Leader, Cub Scouts Secretary and Treasurer, Football mom, and High School Swim Team Photographer. I am also active in my church from Sunday School Teacher to Church activities director and clerk. I have spent almost ten years in Loudon County School Systems either as a substitute teacher or a Pre-Kindergarten Teacher Assistant until this year when I had to take time off to fulfill my dreams of finishing my elementary education degree. What it means to be a teacher..... A teacher by definition is a person who educates individual students by way of occupation or profession at a school. Definition alone doesn’t begin to portray what teachers, especially the outstanding and dedicated, bestow upon these students. The amount of time and devotion that teachers spend beyond school hours in order to prepare themselves and their classrooms in hopes that students will obtain the knowledge for their future success. Becoming a Pre-K teacher assistant in a school based facility gave me a great opportunity to carry out my love for teaching while I worked on my education. Before I left to continue my education, I had several parents write to me in appreciation for loving and caring for their child but I appreciate the parents for giving me the opportunity to teach their children. Every student deserves the opportunity to feel secure, nurtured, and supported, along with a sense of achievement, in a learning environment. I yearn for the opportunity of having a class and relish the chance to face those achievements. It’s a privilege to be apart of a child’s life and share in their accomplishments and successes.

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