As a student, Autumn Flanagan, 40, was nurtured in Calcasieu Parish schools. Today, she is continuing the cycle by nurturing the next generation.

She calls herself a graduate of Calcasieu Parish, and has been a part of the Calcasieu Parish School District for most of her life; she attended College Oaks Elementary, Moss Bluff Middle School and Sam Houston High School.

After graduating high school, she went on to earn her undergraduate degree in early childhood education and elementary education – and later her master of education in educational technology – from McNeese State University.

Flanagan knew she wanted to become a teacher in early elementary school, and was inspired by her kindergarten teacher, Susan Couch, and first grade teacher, Barbara Cooley.

She learned by example, as their love and passion for education guided her to her life’s mission. “I wanted to be just like them,” she said. “They made going to school exciting and enjoyable.”

She has taught for 19 years at two different schools. She spent her first year teaching at Jennings Elementary School, but soon moved back to Calcasieu Parish to teach first grade at Gillis Elementary School.

Flanagan’s values align with Gillis Elementary’s motto: Generating Independent Lifelong Learners in Tomorrow’s Society.

Throughout her career, she has taught kindergarten, first grade, fourth grade and fifth grade, with a particular passion for teaching English language arts.

As an avid reader herself, passing down that passion is a worthwhile experience. “I love teaching kids how to read,” she explained. “Seeing a kid light up when they read is an amazing experience. The smile that reading brings to their face is something you will not forget.”

Flanagan understands the weight of her job. As a first grade teacher, she tends the soil for her students’ future growth. “Learning to read is the most critical part of a child’s educational experience,” she said. “I am helping my students learn a life-long skill, something they will never stop using.”

“When a child has completed first grade and they can read and comprehend they own something that will drive the rest of their lives. I am opening doors by teaching them to read and this helps prevent hurdles or obstacles for the rest of their educational and adult careers.”

She loves teaching first grade because she gets the honor of being a primary witness to the students’ development. “The growth you see in the kids is remarkable from the beginning of the year until the end of the year.”

The growth goes both ways – her students give her purpose. “It amazes me to think how my students help me grow in my profession daily… my students challenge me as a professional to figure out or identify new approaches to reach all students and learning styles.”

“I get the opportunity to find my purpose in their successes. Their growth is my success.”

She also mentors freshman teachers through the Make Mentoring Matter (M3) program, which provides support by helping with curriculum, school routines and parish procedures.

In Flanagan’s classroom, the atmosphere is everything. “I believe that making students feel comfortable in their learning environment produces the most optimal learning setting.”

She also makes sure her classroom is a space for fun, which is also vital to promote learning. “Laughter is important in a student’s day,” she said. “Combining all of this together provides the opportunity for learning to take place in the classroom.”

It takes a significant amount of heart, energy and time to teach. “As a teacher, you will invest yourself into a child’s life and you will create opportunities for these children to become successful adults,” she said.

Despite the personal investment, Flanagan knows that teaching is the most rewarding profession, with the reward being “the knowledge that you have had a part in your students’ life-long success.”