There is one substitute teacher here who has been positively affected by her past teachers.

“When I was in elementary school, my second, third, and fifth grade teachers pretty much treatedme like I was their grandkid and just were really caring and sweet and genuinely concerned with my education and helping me,” says substitute teacher, Ashlee Lichtblau.

But getting behind in reading in first grade meant she had to catch up in second grade.

“My first grade teacher was not a very good teacher, so I was behind in my reading and had to go into Reading Recovery in second grade, which was pretty dramatic,” said Lichblau. “My teacher, Mrs. Simon, was so sweet about it and helped me out so much that when I got to fifth grade, I was reading ahead of the class.”

Lichtblau first found sight of her passion while attending college at Harding University.

“When I got to college, I studied abroad in Greece for four months and then traveled all around Europe for about two and lived in Germany for two months,” said Lichtblau. I realized I really loved history and seeing all these ancient cities and ruins. I decided I wanted to be a history teacher.”

It was in her travels abroad that she realized she wanted to spend her life teaching students about the different places she has ventured to.

“I was so excited to be able to talk about Athens and all these places. I can show them pictures of places that I’ve actually been to,” said  Lichtblau.

Upon her return, she finished schooling and now has hopes of becoming a high school teacher.

“I just started taking a whole bunch of history classes and got my degree and graduated last December,” said Lichtblau. “Now I’m trying to find a job being a high school history teacher.”

She believes teaching is so much more than just instructing students.

“Well, obviously, as a teacher you want to further the education of your students, but I don’t think you can really teach kids anything until you have report with them or until you earn their respect by giving them respect,” said Lichtblau.

She learned her teaching values at church camp.

“Especially at church camp, what I figured out pretty quickly, just because you have the label of counselor or teacher doesn’t get you anywhere with the kids until you actually sit down and show them that you care about who they are outside of their grades,” said Lichtblau.

Her understanding of students and passion for teaching will lead her to success.