For many years, Amy Kindig has devoted her life to helping young children grow and develop.

Kindig, of Niles, has been a kindergarten teacher for the Elkhart Community Schools in Elkhart, Ind. for 13 years. She has been a teacher for 21 years.

“I earned my bachelor’s degree at St. Mary’s College at Notre Dame, and I earned my master’s degree at Indiana Wesleyan University,” Kindig said.

Before deciding to become a teacher, Kindig had the desire to pursue a totally different career.

“I decided to become a teacher during my freshman year in college,” said Kindig. “I started college with pre-med classes with the intention of becoming a pediatrician. I had a friend who kept needing help with her elementary education homework. After helping her all first semester, I decided I liked her homework better than I liked mine. ”

But becoming a teacher was not easy. Kindig said that she had to go through a long process in order to receive her position.

“I had to earn my bachelor’s degree,” she said. “I had to successfully complete student teaching. I was a permanent substitute for one year before earning a full-time teaching contract. I had to be evaluated while teaching for many years in a row. Even now, I have to complete coursework at a college or univesity every five years in order to renew my teacher’s license. ”

Kindig did not always want to be a teacher. At one time, she wanted to pursue several different careers.

“When I was little, I wanted to be a veterinarian,” she said. “I also wanted to be a pediatrician. I did always like working with children. I worked as a babysitter, and I worked at a day care center when I was still in school. ”

But out of all the career options, Kindig said she always had a passion for working with little children.

“I love working with children ages 5 and 6,” she said. “They are very excited about school and so many things are new and fun for them. ”

Although being a teacher can be very rewarding, it can also be very difficult.

“It is often challenging to be a teacher,” Kindig said. “It is not easy to teach every child. All children are different. You have to be able to figure out what strategies work with each child’s learning needs. You also have to be able to communicate well with parents and other teachers and staff. I feel that I am always growing and improving as a teacher.”

Amy said the duties and responsibilities of being a teacher are very different from being a wife and mother.

“A teacher has to work with many students who are all the same age,” said Kindig. “I currently have 26 students in my classroom and only four children at my house. A teacher has to ensure that her students learn the required curriculum during the 180 days of school each year. As a parent, I work with my children all of their lives. A teacher has to manage discipline within a classroom with students who may not have been raised with the same values or expectations that the teacher has. At home, our children have been raised to meet our expectations. A teacher is limited to teaching the school curriculum. A parent teaches morals, values, and religious beliefs. ”

Kindig said she has many favorite things about being a teacher.

“I love working with children and developing relationships with them and their families,” she said. “I love watching my students grow and being able to see their progress from the beginning of the year to the end of the year. I love helping my students to feel important, intelligent and successful. I love working with kindergarten because this year is the beginning of a child’s educational journey. I try to make school a wonderful and memorable experience for my students.”

But there are some things about being a teacher that Kindig doesn’t like.

“The worst part of being a teacher, for me, is not being able to be actively involved in my own children’s classrooms,” she said. “I am working when they are at school, so I usually miss holiday parties, field trips and other important school events. I would love to be their room mother, but it is not possible for me to volunteer of a regular basis. ”

Kindig wants to change the life of every child that she teaches.

“I hope to teach my students how important it is to treat one another with respect,” she said. “Even though I work in a public school, I try to make sure my students learn the Golden Rule — to treat others as you would like to be treated. I know this seems pretty basic; however, we live in a society where kindness is not always encouraged. Bullying is a reality in schools at every age level. I hope to, of course, teach my students all of their academic skills. But, I really hope that they all leave my classroom knowing how to treat one another.”

Not only has working with small children has helped her become a better teacher, but it has also helped her to become a better mother.

“Being a teacher has taught me to celebrate the smallest of accomplishments and to treasure every minute with my own children,” Kindig said. “I have been teaching for a long time. I have seen children grow up and have their own children. Time goes by so quickly. Before you know it, my own children will also be grown up. I cherish every minute with my children. I celebrate every day we have together. I praise them for their accomplishments — no matter how small they may be. I have also learned to teach my children to be grateful. I taped a note to our refrigerator to remind them of how blessed they are. Never take your blessings for granted. And do what you can to help others who are less fortunate than you.”

Kindig has some advice to anyone with small children.

“Parents should try to be involved as much as possible,” she said. “Help your child with homework, and check to make sure they understand it. Read to your child daily, or listen to them read. Communicate with your child’s teacher. Attend school functions to let your child know that you value their education and their accomplishments. Respect your child’s teacher, even if you disagree with them. Keep your child on a consistent schedule and make sure they eat breakfast. Encourage your child to play and arrange social activities for them. Talk to your child every day and listen to them. Be a supportive parent — have high expectations for your child’s behavior and academic progress. Work with your child’s teachers throughout their school career — never assume that your child’s education is their teacher’s job. “