For Kelly Green, teaching was always a goal that she knew she would one day reach. Green’s life started in the south suburbs of Chicago before she and her family moved to Chesterton, bringing them closer to beach access and the Indiana Dunes.
“We would spend a lot of time camping at the Indiana Dunes. When my husband and I decided to move, I asked if we could check out Chesterton. That’s how we ended up out there,” Green said.
Most of Green’s life has been dedicated to children, whether through her eight years as an educator or her role as a mother of two. Becoming a mother meant Green reprioritized her plans, concentrating on parenting first.
“When I first got out of high school, I actually worked as an administrative assistant for a number of years. After getting married and having children, I decided I wanted to be a mom 24/7. I stopped going to school one class at a time and just focused on family,” Green said.
As her son began his college career at Trine University, Green found herself wanting to return to her own education. After discussing this with her family, much to her surprise, they were fully supportive. With their encouragement, she enrolled at Purdue University Northwest’s Westville campus, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in early childhood education with a concentration in reading.
“When I was in junior high school, a teacher always said I was her ‘A student who wouldn’t,’ and it stuck with me. It really affected me. I’ve thought about it a lot throughout my life. When I went back to Purdue Northwest, I gave it my all, telling myself that I’m going to be that A student,” Green said.
Once she graduated, she began working as a third-grade teacher at Westville Elementary School. She has since moved into her current role as a first-grade teacher at Flint Lake Elementary School. In this role, Green leverages more of the early education aspect of her degree. She employs a hands-on approach, engaging students actively in their learning.
“What’s important to me is that my students know I sincerely care for them and believe in their potential. That’s the one thing I always take pride in with my job in teaching,” Green said.
A significant influence and mentor during Green’s time at college was Eisenhauer. She said that without Eisenhauer and the overwhelming support of her family, she wasn’t sure she could have balanced life and schoolwork. Green finds watching her students grow and learn incredibly rewarding. She even likes to check in on some of her former students at Westville.
“Dr. Eisenhauer just has so much knowledge on not only early childhood but everything about children. While I obviously tried to get everything out of those four years I spent with her in various classes, I feel like she’s someone I could still learn more from. It would be neat to have her come and see me teach one day,” Green said.
Through teaching, Green understands how rewarding it is to help future generations learn. However, nothing rewarding comes without challenges. She must accommodate each student’s learning abilities, health challenges, and behavioral needs.
“I want my students to know that I sincerely care for them and believe in their potential. That’s the one thing I always take pride in with my job,” Green said.
Her journey from administrative assistant to full-time mother to first-grade teacher demonstrates that it’s never too late to pursue your passion. With a commitment to nurturing young minds and believing in every student's potential, Green proves that teaching is more than a profession – it’s a calling.