A Job Well Done

Mrs. Kara Williams has been a teacher in Galena for nearly 9 years. She has a husband of almost 21 years, and 4 children. She teaches special education to students. She teaches about jobs, vocational skills, life skills, etc. Basically she teaches a little bit of everything, as she describes it. Adulting 101

Before becoming a teacher, Mrs. Williams ran an in-home daycare. She enjoyed it but she never expected to do it forever. When asked why she chose to be a teacher, she admitted that, “I just woke up one day and decided it was what I wanted to do. I like the thought of helping others. I appreciate having holidays and summers off with my family.” Teaching was always her plan. Eventually she got a teaching certificate and a Masters in Special Education, after that she was ready to become a teacher. Everyday is a new surprise for her, but that is what makes her job exciting. She hopes that her students will use whatever they learn well in their day to day life after graduation. Williams would love to have a break every now and then.

 When Williams isn't teaching the kids, she is figuring out her curriculum. “I'm always figuring out how to make my curriculum better. I'm organizing things, I’m writing out data, I’m constantly trying to be better. I’m troubleshooting how to help my students.” There is no specific part of school that Williams enjoys, she loves her students and the adults that she works alongside. When asked what she does when her students misbehave, she exclaimed that communication is key. “Behavior is communication.  I try to decide what a student is trying to communicate with me with their choices. Besides that, it is important to set clear expectations, and reinforce appropriate behavior. There is a LOT more I could say about this, this is a tough question to answer in a few words.”

Williams favorite time of the year is Spring, when she gets to take her Transition I & II classes to Job Olympics at Branson High School. Unfortunately Mrs. Williams has no plans of starting any clubs, since when asked if she would she said quote, “nope”. The biggest plan that Williams has is watching her kids grow up, go to college, and build their futures.

Few people can handle a job like Mrs. Williams. Doing multiple teachings, little free time, and to top it off she has to be a mother to her own kids. She deserves the world for all of her good work, and hopefully she can get that vacation that she deserves.