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Hilltop welcomes new reading teacher
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Neighbors | Abby Slanker.Suzen Woolley teaches kindergarten, first-, second-, third- and fourth-grade reading intervention at Hilltop Elementary School.
By ABBY SLANKER
Suzen Woolley’s goal is to make reading fun for all students at Hilltop Elementary School.
Woolley teaches kindergarten, first-, second-, third- and fourth-grade reading intervention.
“I feel so fortunate to be providing small group instruction for reading to students on a more individualized basis. All students receive reading intervention at the same time, so I am able to work with my groups without any concerns of them missing anything from their classroom instruction,” Woolley said.
After graduating from high school, Woolley attended Youngstown State University and received her degree in elementary education, grades one through eight.
After graduating from YSU, she started her teaching career in Garrettsville, Ohio, and taught fifth grade for five years.
“It was an amazing experience. The children were your typical middle school kids (whom I love!). My team of colleagues was equally amazing and I am still friends with them today,” Woolley said. „ÄÄ
According to Woolley, there wasn’t one particular event or experience that made her want to go into teaching, she just always wanted to be around children.
“I remember wanting to always be around children. My older sister taught Sunday school and I was not old enough to do the same, so I’d beg her to let me help on Sundays and at home. I remember getting so excited to ‘plan’ with her. I used to think, ‘This is great; I could do this forever.’ As soon as I was old enough, I got a Sunday school class of my own and started to baby-sit as well,” Woolley said.
Woolley is married to Steve Woolley and they have four children: Austin is in eighth grade at Canfield Village Middle School; Spencer is in fifth grade at CVMS; Blake is in second grade at C.H. Campbell Elementary School and Mya is in first grade at C.H.
Woolly also said she appreciates the simple gifts in everyday life.
“When I started teaching in Garrettsville, I felt so lucky to have a job to go to every day that I loved. On a daily basis, it was rewarding, challenging and ever-changing. I was young and perhaps a bit naive, but I was surprised to learn not everyone felt this way about their jobs. I guess it was this realization that made me especially appreciate the simple gifts in everyday life,” Woolley said.