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Special ed teacher values students' creativity

Tina Hume is a special education teacher at Pleasant Hill Elementary School in Winfield.

Q. Special education classrooms are always changing. How do you keep up with the current methods?

A. I have a passion for learning, so the No. 1 way I have kept up with the constant changes in special education is through my continued higher education. Since receiving my undergraduate degree in 2005, I have gone on to pursue master's degrees in the areas of mathematics, as well as curriculum and instruction, with dual concentrations in the areas of early childhood education as well as English language development and reading.

While schooling has definitely helped me stay current with the latest educational trends, so has staying current in my professional memberships as well as attending both district and locally offered professional development opportunities.

Q. What's one thing you wish more people knew about the kids in your classroom?

A. There are many misconceptions about special education and the students who qualify for my services. Many people associate special education with low intelligence, laziness, lack of success, or not being able to learn.

These misconceptions could not be further from the reality of the students I teach every day. The one thing I wish more people knew about the students in my classroom is that they are the hardest working individuals you will ever meet.

My students face their learning challenges head on each and every day and never give up on themselves or each other. They are not your traditional learners, so traditional teaching does not work for them. My students have the most beautiful minds, and I am certain that one day their creativity, uniqueness and determination will make them leaders of their generation.

Q. What's the highlight of your week?

A. The highlight of my week is Mondays because my students and I take the first five minutes of our group time just to chat about our weekends.

  Students special education teacher Tina Hume works with at Pleasant Hill Elementary are nontraditional learners, so she uses nontraditional techniques to bring out their creativity, uniqueness and determination. Here, she works with fourth-graders Zion Gashaw, from left, Zach Alyahya and Ricky Vasquez. Bev Horne/bhorne@dailyherald.com
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