Insights from a First-Year Teacher

Balancing Challenges and Triumphs

BY LILY PARIZEK

TEACHER AT HARTLEY ELEMENTARY

Teaching is one of the most impactful careers, and it comes with its own set of challenges. With back-to-school approaching, it’s important to keep teachers in mind so we can support them during this time. I’m Lily Parizek, a first-grade teacher at Hartley Elementary School in Lincoln, and I’m here to share what helped me through me first year of teaching.

Teachers Learn Too

The first year of any job is filled with learning moments. As a first-year teacher, I spent extra time prepping lessons and figuring out how to balance my time with all of my students. Helping one kid succeed is much different than trying to help a full classroom of children, so it takes time.

Support System

At Hartley Elementary, every first-year teacher is partnered with a mentor teacher. It was nice to have someone to problem solve with me without any judgment. Parents also made me feel supported, sending random emails of a drawing that one of my students made at home, or asking a question they had about the upcoming week.

Communication is Key

Communication is really important when it comes to bridging the gap between school and home. Learning continues outside of school, and it is key to your child’s success to stay up-to-date with your child’s teachers.

The Kids Make It All Worth It

I feel that the most rewarding part about being a teacher is noticing a difference in my students’ learning, and watching them fall in love with it. Kids get super excited to be at school, which makes me feel good because then I know they want to be there and they want to learn. Their bright, innocent outlook on the world is refreshing and makes me hopeful for the future.

I am looking forward to meeting my new class of students this August!