Davalyn Kafka: Teaching 1st Grade, A Career Based On Caring.

Davalyn Kafka, Challenger Elementary.

“I love teaching children because I love children…”

For 35 years in the Howell Public Schools District, Davalyn Kafka has been a first grade fixture.  She began the first half of her career at Southeast Elementary, and the other half on the west side of town at Challenger Elementary.  One year between, she taught at Southwest.

What is it about teaching that keeps teachers like Ms. Kafka refreshed year after year?  “I love teaching children because I love children.  I love their honestly, forgiving nature, natural humor and all the hugs and warm smiles I get.  I love to see their faces light up when they figure out that they are reading and I love it when I can make them feel better about the littlest thing.  I feel so blessed to have chosen a career that I have loved and continue to love every day.”

Ms. Kafka strives to accomplish many things with her first grade students.  “I always hope that I will instill a feeling of self-worth in every child, as well as a love of reading and of learning.   I try to encourage them to do their best daily and to take responsibility for their learning.  I explain to them that we both have jobs in school; mine is to teach and their job is to learn as much as they can.”

Davalyn reflects over many rewarding experiences during her teaching career.  “Some of the greatest ones would be when children come back and tell me how much they enjoyed our time together.  Another would be when I am invited to graduation parties, celebrations and even weddings of former students.  One more would be when former students tell me that I played a part in their career choice of becoming a teacher.  That is a great compliment.”

Ms. Kafka has spent her life work in the Howell district, but is a community member here as well.  Her children are all graduates of Howell.  When she is not in the classroom, Davalyn enjoys traveling to Europe with her daughter, as well as visiting with former high school classmates regularly at Lake Michigan.  She also likes to roll up her sleeves and sharpen her culinary skills, and is an ardent fan of the Food Channel.  In recent years, Davalyn has also given to her community serving as a Big Sister to a former student, and also coached Girls on the Run at Challenger after school.

Janet Elliott: Building Solid Learning Foundations for Three Decades.

Janet Elliott, Hutchings Elementary

“It brings me great joy to watch first graders grow both socially and academically…”

Janet Elliott has taught in Howell for thirty years. She began her career at Southwest Elementary School teaching second grade. She also taught kindergarten, seventh and eighth grade math English and elementary music. She’s now a twenty-two year first grade veteran, having taught at both Northwest and at Hutchings Elementary.

“I wanted to be a teacher for as long as I can remember and have always loved children,” Janet says. “It brings me great joy to watch first graders grow both socially and academically. I have always enjoyed seeing the children come to school each day with huge smiles and enthusiasm. They are so excited to talk with their teacher and share everything that is important and special to them. I love to be that listening ear that can both enjoy them and guide them. Those who aren’t coming to school with smiles and enthusiasm need that special person who cares about them and makes them feel that they are important each and every day. I want to be that person for them so they are happy and ready to learn while at school.”

When students master the essential skills that lead to lifelong learning, Mrs. Elliott knows she’s on the right track. “I know I’ve done my job when I hear ‘I can read this book!’ or ‘I wrote the numbers all the way to 700!’ in that expressive voice that little children use so well. I try to make learning fun and something to be celebrated. My goal is to convey a lifelong love of learning and to promote putting forth a personal best effort in each endeavor.”

Janet and her husband celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary in August, they reside in Hartland and have three children. Her daughter Jamie is an alumnus of Michigan Sate university and is attending University of Michigan’s Nursing School and will graduate in August 2009. Her older son Nick,is in Civil Engineering at Michigan State and will graduate in 2010. Youngest son Jeff is a junior at Hartland High School and is planning to pursue a career as a commercial pilot.

“With children in college, it’s always fun when they are together as a complete family. They enjoy camping, weekends up north, MSU football games, and anything else that affords an opportunity to get back together,” Mrs. Elliott says.

Active in her community, Janet is a member of Hartland United Methodist Church, the Hartland Women’s Club, and the Hartland High School PTO.