In her 15th year of teaching kindergarten at Pleasant Acres Elementary School in Rantoul, Jessica Lock has never tired of teaching 5- and 6-year-olds, an age that she calls “incredible.”
Lock, who grew up on a farm outside of Avon, has made an impression with her work ethic and patience.
“She is an experienced kindergarten teacher at Pleasant Acres who not only is an incredible teacher, but also a consistent, steady part of our school family,” Principal Samantha Sebestik said. “She sees every situation as an opportunity to learn or try something new and is a quiet leader by example. In her classroom, she supports all students’ learning, meets them where they are at and always maintains a calm environment.”
I find my work important because ... it is often a child’s first experience with all-day school. If I do my job well, I create a joy and love of learning, school and friendships. I get to teach more than just letters and numbers but resilience, social skills, perseverance and self-regulation. Kindergarten really is a foundational piece of our schooling journey, and I love being that teacher for them.
I became a teacher because ... I always enjoyed being with kids and helping them succeed. I’ve always seemed to have the patience for the younger ages and enjoy their zeal for everything new and exciting. There are also a lot of teachers in my family who showed me how rewarding and fulfilling it can be.
My favorite lesson that I teach is ... interactive read-alouds. These are more than reading a story but adding in whiteboards, movement or conversation. Students are listening for beginning sounds in words, rhymes or other skills we are working on while I’m reading. We get to have great back-and-forth interactions and learning while reading classic and new favorites.
My most fulfilling moments on the job are when ... I see students understand that they can read all on their own. Reading unlocks so much more of the world for us. When I see that door opening for students, I know what else they are about to discover, and it’s such an exciting moment to witness.
I keep students engaged by ... incorporating play as much as possible. If they are playing, they often don’t even realize how much and how quickly they are learning. It helps them keep their bodies and brains moving, which is key to keeping the classroom running smoothly.
Something else I’m passionate about is ... walking with my dogs, baking and cheering on the Illini. I love going to basketball and football games, making muffins for my coworkers and being out on hikes in our county forest preserves.
My favorite teacher and subject were ... I had a lot of great teachers at Avon Elementary and High School. In grade school, my first- and second-grade teachers, Mrs. Kramer and Mrs. Davis, respectively, helped foster my love for reading. I became a voracious reader in those years, and they helped me foster that love that continues today. Since then, I’ve always enjoyed literature, language arts and writing.
If I weren’t a teacher, I would be ... something to do with animals — especially dogs. I can imagine training service dogs or working with an animal-rescue organization.
— ANTHONY ZILIS