Griffin’s teaching career started at an early age, when she knew she wanted to go to college and major in education.
“When I told him (my father) I wanted to go to college, he laughed. I was breaking the cycle I guess,” said Griffin, who was the first in her family to attend college.
When Griffin was attending college in North Dakota, her father died. The decision to stay in school instead of returning to Fairfield to look after her mother was a difficult one, but her mother pushed her to stay in school, a decision Griffin is happy with today.
“I probably would have quit, but she insisted,” Griffin said.
While Griffin spends her days teaching, her work doesn’t end there. She’s purchased a whole set of winter clothing for students in need, serves on numerous committees, is involved with the PTC and leads a drama camp and a children’s Christmas program at her church, Fairfield First Baptist.
Before Griffin was announced as the 2010-11 teacher of the year, Superintendent Cathy Milligan described what was said about Griffin in the nominations. She has a gift for making each child feel valued and respected, someone who helps kids build good character, fiesty and compassionate, among other things.
In more than 20 years Griffin has been teaching at Fairfield, she said she most enjoys working with needy children and children with disabilities.
“I love working with those kids ... you can make things meaningful at their level and help them to be successful,” she said. “It just touches my heart. To take a needy kid and hug them ... sometimes they don’t get that at home, and sometimes, this is the only place they’re going to get that.”
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