July 30, 2019 Issue, Page 12 of 12

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The Elk City News, Elk City, Oklahoma Tuesday, July 30, 2019 Merritt community with to remember her as a good Schreck taught Hawkins all the people that I teacher and one who cared when Hawkins was in know who have watched about them. One teacher first and fourth grades. me grow up,” she said. who inspired her was Kathy “Tm just excited and I’m She enters her first year Schreck, who was “fun and ready to have a whole new with an open mind and will outgoing and she genu- group of students that I take everything day by day, inely cared for each and can teach and come to love she said. She wants students every student,” she said. like my own,” she said. Meet the teachers Pruitt Hawkins Nix August 13 Intermediate School For all PK Students and Elk City students and par- 6-7:30 p.m. Elk City Parents. come and shake New teac ents can stop by tite school Middle School and High off those first of school jit- to meet ES eee School ders anduncet our PR tear supply list and get other in- d buildi incipalstie formation they might need. PK Popscicle Party ane aE pencils! 5-6:30 p.m. Elk City August 8 you've got questions, we’ve Continued from page I. going to graduate school.” already helped so muchso far. 1 reWait “Wes exciting to have Elementary School I 6:30-8 p.m. - Elementary got answers! We can’t wait and just graduated from Acouple of his friends sent Southwestern Oklaho- him info about the district that opportunity in the |jeeeeaau anit ciey Playground to see you there! ma State University with having an opening, and he de- a degree in early child- hood education. She cided to call and the rest was — forgive the pun — history. Two reasoiis good kids become will teach first grade. “It’s weird how things “Tam pretty passionate work out sometimes,” about children and I get real said Pruitt, whose degree bad students. excited when you can tell is in American Studies. that they’re learning some- Looking back now, he thing,” she said. “I want then said he had some ideas about them to get excited about teaching but was looking school and I want to hope- at other jobs that offered fully change their lives.” more money. But in some She has family members ways, he said, he knew he who are teachers, and she wanted to teach and was just 80% of learning saw how much they loved giving himself excuses to is obtained through vision. the job, which triggered not do it “until it just kind help trigger her interest. of hit me in the face and I Make sure your child has an “T'm pretty nervous, but I’m couldn’t hold out any more.” eye exam before starting school. more excited than I am ner- Pruitt, who is on alternate vous,” said Nix, who grew certification, said he knows up in Elk City. “I’m excited he will be a familiar face ¢ to see all of the adventures ‘on campus. He also will be e s that are out there and what a coach at the high school, = this first year has to [bring].” being an assistant for three —_ She realizes teaching prob- varsity sports: football, girls ably will be difficult, but said basketball and __ baseball. she is up to he challenge. She “Tt just gives me a little thinks it is her calling, even extra boost because I want to Check Yea as she at one time contem- see this area do great in ev- See Ceenhe plated nursing as a career. erything they do and it just www.checkyearly.com She saw the downsides of gives me a chance have a the teaching profession, such hand in their growth,” he said as the low pay, disrespect for about teaching at Merritt. 920 N Main Street teachers that exists among The first year has him some people and the chal- “pretty nervous” because Elk City, OK lenges of dealing with some of his lack of experience, parents, but she thought “it but he said enjoys having 580-243-1121 was always my calling, so one class, military history, it always drew me back.” which he will make entire- DrsBintzAndEllis.com [cj She had planned all along ly his own. He knows the to come back to Elk City to first few years can be tough teach. She did her student and an adjustment period, teaching here, and she thinks but he listens to advice he that opened the door for her. has received — be energetic “I just remembered I and know the subject mat- Monday - Friday gooss0” —Currell’s ’ = 3106 3 Once S. Mai ter — as he begins his career. Saturday Sauiey VOI center, 58025-1: 911 loved going to school here, and after student teach- “T guess overall, don’t be ing, I knew I wanted to be worried these first couple Shop Online: currells.doitbest.com Find us on [fd at the school,” she said. of years,” he said about She remembers a teach- the advice he received. er, sixth grade teach- “Just get used to it and er Brenda — Morgan, just be you, basically.” who had effect on her. Hawkins will teach second “In previous years, I had a grade at Merritt. She gradu- hard time with school, espe- ated from Merritt High in cially in reading, and it got to where Ididn’t enjoy going,” 2012 and graduated from Oklahoma State Univer- BUILT TO LAST Deal AMERICAN QUALITY. MADE WITH PRIDE. she said. “But the year I was sity in 2016, when she got 25 YEARS iO YEARS IN RIPON, WISCONSIN. in her class, she really went a degree in communication above and beyond for me sciences and disorders. She of the and pulled me out of my rut, worked for a Head Start and I hope that I can be that in Lookeba before decid- teacher for my students.” Pruitt graduated from ing to become a teacher. “Working with children Decade Merritt High in 2015 and has always been a passion then went to Lake Forest of mine,” she said. “Since I College in Lake Forest, Ill., was little, I’ve always had 10 Year Warranty on where he played football people tell me that I was for the Division III school. good working with children In a recent survey by Consumer Reports, Speed Queen was recognized for being He decided to come back and that I should pursue Number One in Reliability among all maior appliance brands. Speed Quee n to the area after hearing something with children.” To celebrate this accomplishment, we are offering consumers the Veal of the Decade about an opening here. He She is going through a (or maybe the century) with a 10 YEAR PARTS AND LABOR FACTORY WARRANTY! will teach history classes master’s program for early This is a limited time offer and an incredible offer at the high school, includ- childhood education, The ing a military history class. “T wasn’t planning on be- school district had an open- ing for a second-grade Currell’s ®oit center ing a teacher until [the sec- teacher, so Hawkins de- ond semester of my senior cided to accept that post. year] and this job opened Hawkins is excited to work up, and it was like a divine in Merritt, including how she intervention where the week will be working with some 3106 S. Main before me and my mom of the teachers she had when Elk City, OK « 580/225-1941 were talking about it,” he she was young. She has met said. “I was thinking about with co-teachers, who have