Educator of the Week: Wendy Bowden | Silk Hope School

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Grades/subjects you teach: I am currently an instructional assistant for children with special needs. I have also worked in preschool, kindergarten and 1st grade.

E-mail address: wbowden@chatham.k12.nc.us

Date, place of birth: Born and raised in Siler City

Education: I graduated from Jordan-Matthews High School and have an associate’s degree in early childhood education from Central Carolina Community College.

Brief work history: I was hired as an assistant for Silk Hope School in 1993. I am currently in my 27th year at the same school!

Honors/awards: 2019 Silk Hope School Instructional Assistant of the Year

Hobbies/interests outside of educating: I attend Community Baptist Church in Siler City, where I love to serve my Lord. I enjoy fishing and watching my son play sports. Family time is my favorite time no matter what activity we are doing.

Family: I am blessed to have SO many family members live close to me, my husband, Jimmy, and children, Jake and Cecilia.

What led you to a career in education? I have always loved the idea of working with children. As a student, I would ask teachers for extra class papers to play school with dolls and stuffed animals. Pretending became a reality and a career I love.

Who were your favorite teachers as you went through school, and what did you learn from them? I had many wonderful teachers, but it was the teachers I did not like that made a difference. I learned from them to not do any job you did not seem to love. You will always do your best at something when you are excited to be a part of it.

What “makes your day” as an educator? When a nonverbal child smiles at me as to say, “I did it!”

What’s your favorite memory of your first year in education? This is by far not a favorite memory but a teachable moment for me: I had shared with a student how excited I was to have made it to Friday. He responded he was not happy because school is his safest place. I made a promise to never say that again in front of a student.

Best piece of advice for other educators? When you stop loving your job, stop teaching. To some students you are their world.

What about your job would most surprise your friends who are not educators? I have a time that I clock out on a computer but I never “leave” my job. My students are always on my mind. I see Goldfish crackers on a store shelf and think of a student that would love them. I hear a song and think of how that is a favorite and “she” would clap if she was listening, also.

If you could somehow magically instill one truth into the heads of your students, what would it be? Never give up trying!

What’s special about your education space at your school? Between being in a mobile unit, and doing personal things for the students (feeding and diapering), our space feels exactly like a little home. I hope the students feel that, too!

What’s special about your school? “The Silk Hope Way”... I was told about this from Principal Rob Tharp. He said “It is something that is hard to explain but just the way things are done around here.” If you have ever worked at Silk Hope you have heard about “The Silk Hope Way.”