This week we are spotlighting hidden hero and Valerie Elementary kindergarten teacher Mia Morrison! Mia has been a Kindergarten teacher at DPS for 6 years, and has been an educator for 30 years. She is also a lead teacher for kindergarten math.

Although COVID-19 has changed a lot about teaching, Mia said she has found creative ways to continue to teach her students in the way they learn best — through play and inquiry. Over the summer, she collaborated with other teachers to create engaging virtual learning centers for students. During hybrid instruction, she ensured each student had their own bin with the learning materials a classroom would typically share, such as Leggos, playdough, counting cubes and other manipulatives. During the extended break, she continued to meet virtually with students to read stories, have scavenger hunts and more.

She said that to her, teaching is a passion — not a job.

“I love the connections I have with my students and their families,” she said. “It is great to be able to work together and celebrate students’ successes. Seeing their A-HA moments when everything starts to click for them in reading and math is incredibly rewarding for me. It makes all the long hours worthwhile.”

Mia said during this challenging time of COVID-19, it is important for all DPS employees to have grace and compassion toward themselves and others because everyone is navigating these new ways of educating students.