Listen

Watch

Can you tell us about yourself? 

Okay, so I'm gonna tell you a little bit about myself. My name is Desiree' Rutter. I work at a Success Achievement Academy in Jonesboro, Arkansas. I'm a special education teacher. And I've only been here this year.

Why did you start a career in education?

Why did I start my career in education? I just have always loved kids. I have always mentored even in college. I always look for opportunities to hang out with the little kids at the table. Like at Christmas, the Christmas table. I say it with them. I just enjoy being around kids. So that's probably why I got into education. 

If I could have any other job, what would it be and why?

And if you could have any other job, what would it be? Definitely stay-at-home dog, mom.

How are kids different than they were 30 years ago?

How are kids it's different now than 30 years ago. I really feel like kids haven't changed a whole lot. I feel like our environment has changed a whole lot with technology and how we interact with it. So I guess it has changed kids in some ways, but I feel like kids are pretty much curious as they've always been and fun and lighthearted a lot of times. And so I don't feel like kids have changed. I feel like maybe technology in stuff has changed, but not too much. 

How is teaching different than it was 30 years ago?

Also how was teaching different now than 30 years ago? I feel like probably my teachers, the ones that were very effective were ones that were hands-on and ones that had you acting out things and had you, um, doing things like that, but also feel like, um, obviously we didn't have Quizlet and fun, easy, uh, ways to remember things. Um, so, you know, I feel like teaching is not different. Just the way that we learn has changed. You know, I used to have to take notes extensively, and now, you know, kids do Quizlet and do things like that. So that one is a little different. 

What would you tell someone who wants to become a teacher?

Would you tell someone right now if they were wanting to become a teacher? Absolutely. If this is yours, I feel like teaching is a calling on your life. You can't do it because of the money because you'll get really angry very quickly, but absolutely if that's what your passion is and you feel like you can make a difference in the world, you should.

What would you change to help kids learn better?

What is one thing you would change to help kids learn better? You know I feel like there's lots of things that can change in education as a whole, but I guess one thing that I would change is just making sure kids probably have access to the things that they need, you know, so for one reason, the headphones are really important to me and my classroom is because it allows them to access two very online and have it read for them. And headphones are a basic requirement these days, you know, to have individualized learning. It's very, very helpful. So anyways, that is my seven questions.