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Can you tell us about yourself? 

"Hey, I'm Renee Buckley. My school is Quitman Upper Elementary. I'm a third grade teacher there. Um, and it was located Quitman, Mississippi. This is my 18th year to teach."

Why did you start a career in education?

"Question Number two ,why did you start a career in education? Um, I loved working with kids. Um, I had children of my own, so I really wanted the summers off with them and holidays off with them. And that's just what I felt like. I'm, I was called to do." 

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

"Question number three. If you could have any other job, what would it be and why? If I could be anything else, I would have become a nurse that, um, I had a fear of needles so I didn't do that to number four." 

How are kids different now than 30 years ago?

"How are kids different now than they were 30 years ago? Um, so many ways I think they are so much more, um, outspoken, ready to tell you whatever they think. Um, of course they're more technology oriented because we didn't really have that 30 years ago." 

How is teaching different now than 30 years ago?

"Um, how has teaching number five, how is teaching different now than 30 years ago? Um, same thing really. We have so much more at our disposal, so many more, um, resources to use. Um, I feel like it's a lot more strenuous, stressful teaching today than it was 30 years ago because we have so much accountability." 

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

"Question number six, what would you tell someone right now that is thinking about becoming a teacher? Um, I would tell them if they're in it for the money, if they're wanting to big paycheck, they need to find something else today. Um, and that they really have to feel like this is what they're led to do. This is their calling. Their heart has to be in it." 

What is one thing you would change to help kids learn better?

"Um, number seven, what is one thing you could change to help kids learn better? Um, if we could just slow down a little bit. I think, um, just enjoying school, just being able to enjoy, um, being in the classroom. Um, I feel like they need to have more social skills, um, in the lower grades because they don't really get that. Um, like how to present themselves, how to react to, um, things that they don't really like. Um, just basic, you know, how to get along, how to treat each other. So that's it. Thanks."