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New Watson teacher feels at home in Austintown
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Neighbors | Sarah Foor .After enjoying last year as a long-term second-grade substitute, Dana Elias has found her academic home as a full-time third-grade teacher at Watson Elementary.
By SARAH FOOR
Although new third-grade Watson teacher Dana Elias was born in Canfield and attended school there, she said being part of the Austintown Falcons family feels right.
“I was a long-term second-grade substitute here last year, but I’m really excited to start my entire year and my career at Watson. I truly love this district and I already feel like part of the family,” Elias said.
While attending Youngstown State University, Elias earned a degree in early childhood education and fed her passion for teaching reading and literacy.
“Third grade is a wonderful time to teach reading. It’s definitely the age where they’ve begun to perfect their reading and really get excited about it. I try to keep reading fun for the kids, offering plenty of projects and guest readers,” Elias shared.
As a third-grade teacher, Elias will need to help her students tackle the Ohio Achievement Tests this year. Although the tests bring pressure for her and her students to do well, she hopes she can make the year as stress-free as possible.
“I won’t be teaching specifically for the test or bombarding them with practice tests. This year will be all about different teaching strategies, but always keeping them nice and calm about the process,” the teacher said.