Katy Ritchie helps students find a love of reading at Metter Elementary School
The media specialist assistant never planned on becoming a teacher.
The media specialist assistant never planned on becoming a teacher.
The media specialist assistant never planned on becoming a teacher.
Click here to nominate an educator for WJCL's Teacher Feature.
Katy Ritchie is a media specialist assistant at Metter Elementary. She never planned on becoming a teacher. After getting a degree in criminal justice, Ritchie made a career switch and began substitute teaching. That's when she fell in love with the classroom.
"I thank God every day for putting me in this position that I'm at," Ritchie said.
She has a unique position at Metter Elementary. "I process books. I put new books out. I discard books. I weed through the collection we have, if some are messed up," Ritchie said.
For someone who never enjoyed reading as a student, Ritchie says she loves getting kids excited about reading. "With those younger grades, if you get them to fall in love with books, then they're going to be in love with it forever. It's an escape from this world and even little minds need an escape," Ritchie said.
Ritchie said her job is special and she can't imagine herself anywhere else. "I love the fact that I get to see all age groups and I get to experience so many different personalities and so many different learning levels, and I get to ignite that love for reading in them," she said.
Click here to see other teachers who have been honored with the WJCL 22 Teacher Feature Award.