Amy Rice returns to Jewell County

At this point in the year, you have probably already met Rock Hills Elementary's fourth and fifth grade social studies, science and writing teacher, Amy Rice. She was born and raised in Jewell, but now lives in Smith

Center. Rice enjoys living in rural areas.

Rice went to school in Jewell and then went to K-State where she received a bachelor's degree in social work in 2006. In the spring of this year she received her master's degree in teaching. Rice has been married to her husband for nine years. They met when he became the new pastor at the church she had been attending her whole life. Rice has three step-children. In her free time, Rice enjoys reading, Legos and time with family.

This is Rice's first year in her own classroom. She had been a paraeducator at Rock Hills for six years before becoming a teacher. Prior to that, Rice had been the librarian at Jewell and Randall for several years.

The teachers at Rock Hills Elementary School inspired Rice to become a teacher. "I have had the privilege of working with them for the past six years, learning from them, and having them model what a good teacher

looks like," Rice said. "I am incredibly grateful for the teachers and staff who have come along side me and supported me and encouraged me."

Since Rice has been a para for the last six years, she already knew a lot of the students, so she looks forward to continuing to build relationships with them and helping them gain new understanding and knowledge about the world around them.

Rice's responsibilities include making fun and engaging lesson plans that are interesting to the students and still meet the state standards, making sure the students are meeting the milestones as far as what they're learning and the process, helping students learn about themselves to gain independence, to gain confidence in themselves and to help expose them to the world around them.

Rice tells endeavoring teachers they will need to be creative and flexible. They need to be sure to keep the needs of the students as the absolute, top priority. "I'm really happy to be here," Rice commented. "I went back to school specifically because I wanted to work here."