Jordan never gave up on her dream to teach
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“My husband worked for G.E. back then and we moved a lot. And when we started having kids, I wanted to stay home with them, so I never got around to finding a (teaching) position, though I always made sure to keep my certification up,” she explained.
A Louisiana native, she earned her bachelor’s degree from Northwestern (Louisiana) State University. In the years that followed, she and her husband, Velton, moved frequently, living in such places as Shreveport, La., Murfreesboro, Bowling Green, Ky., Fort Wayne, Ind., and McMinnville.
Jordan noted that while she never had a classroom position during this time, that’s not to say she didn’t teach.
“I’ve always taught, just not for money,” she laughed, noting she has taught English to Laotian immigrants, both children and adults, as well as Sunday school. Additionally, she spent much time over the years volunteering in her children’s schools.
It was during one such volunteer stint at West Elementary, where her son attended, she decided to become a substitute teacher as a way to get her foot in the door for a future teaching position.
After subbing only one day, she was approached by West principal Troy Jones, who, having noticed her certification on her substitute application, asked her to fill the leave of the school’s guidance counselor. She accepted, and the following year was given her own first-grade classroom.
These days Jordan works in the school’s intermediate program, teaching third- and fourth-grade students her specialty subject, social studies, as well as the subjects of math, reading and spelling.
With 10 years’ experience, she noted she has less experience than many younger teachers and that most teachers her age are beginning to retire.
“But I don’t want to leave the classroom. Teaching is something I honestly enjoy. It’s something I have to do, something I felt I was called to do. I always look forward to coming to work. It’s never a chore for me,” she said.
When not at West, Jordan enjoys spending time with her husband, children, Will, Paul and Amy, as well her grandchildren, Jackson and Nicholas. She also enjoys reading, gardening, and volunteer work at church, including teaching Sunday school.