​Teacher nears 30 years at Freedom Elementary

Q&A with Amy Johns, second-grade teacher.

Contact this contributing writer at lisa.knodel@gmail.com.

Amy Johns knows Freedom Elementary School better than just about anyone else.

That’s because the second grade teacher has taught there for 29 years — ever since the doors to the school opened.

The Today’s Pulse talked with Johns to find out more about the veteran Lakota Local School District teacher.

Q: What has been your educational journey?

A: I have been a teacher for 31 years, 29 here at Freedom. I did my undergraduate work at the University of Cincinnati; I have always lived in the Cincinnati area — born and raised.

Q: Why did you become a teacher?

A: Education was something that was valued in my family. I was the first of my siblings to attend college.

Q: What do you enjoy most about teaching?

A: Building relationships with my students and their families, so we can work together to learn all that my kids are capable of. It is amazing to see smiles and "ahas" as children love learning and coming to school every day.

I love my team of second grade teachers and couldn’t do my job without them. I am honored to call them my friends as well.

Q: What is the biggest challenge facing teachers today?

A: There are so many demands on teachers that directly impact the instruction process. There's just so much to do with so little time to plan and do it all.

Q: What is your teaching philosophy?

A: Instill that love of learning in the children and care for them, and all is good.

Q: What is a favorite memory from your teaching career?

A: I taught a sweet little second-grader, and, when she was a sixth-grader, she asked my principal if she could share a letter about me (unbeknownst to me) during a school wide assembly. Needless to say, I was deeply touched.

I absolutely love when previous students email, visit, share their lives with me. It doesn’t get much better than that.

Q: What are some of your hobbies?

A: I enjoy reading, decorating, crafting, shopping and collecting pig treasures.

Q: What is something people may not know about you?

A: I was on the 1970s hit show, "The Brady Bunch," when they filmed at Kings Island. I love to eat Twizzlers.

Q: Can you tell us about your family?

A: I have an extremely supportive family – from my husband to my son and daughter-in-law and in-laws. I also am lucky enough to have a family of amazing friends as well. My son is an Army Ranger, and I am very proud of him.

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