Teacher of the Week: Susan Allred

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Our Teacher of the Week said she never had an interest in becoming an educator until after she graduated school and started working with children.

Now that Susan Allred found her way back into the classroom, she said she feels like it is where she belongs.

Allred has working with students for sixteen years and has worked in schools across New Hanover County. Now, she teaches fourth grade at Holly Tree Elementary School, where she completed her student teaching.

“It is like I’ve come full circle. This is my second home. This is my family,” said Allred.

With her little family of fourth graders, Ms. Allred knows it’s important to make them feel special as individuals.

“My first grade teacher sent me a Christmas card and I never forgot that,” she said. “It made me feel so special and I wanted my class to feel that same love that I felt that day.”

During her winter break, she too took the time to send her students a card.

“I got a lot of positive feedback from that. I love these kids, they’re awesome,” said Allred.

Though the holidays have come and gone, Ms. Allred still finds little ways to keep her students on their toes, literally. Each week while students are changing classes, she plays what she calls Friday Jams to celebrate all the hard work they did that week.

“We just put on some of our favorite songs. We boogie a little bit and relax and chill and just have a good time together,” she said.

As they all come together, Ms. Allred knows every student is different so she incorporates classical music into lesson plans as well.

“I just try to make it a nice place to be for all the learners,” she said.