Diane Holtam

I became a teacher because I love working with children, and I thought it would be a fun career. However, as a young teacher working my first job for ten years in an inner city school, I quickly realized that it was so much heavier than what I thought.I taught many children that needed someone to believe in them, living in dire straits, and needing to see that education was the key to a new life. I love hearing from many as they received college scholarships and pell grants. I love helping them!

My most memorable experience was when I had a child who was a “seething with anger” fifth grader who hated everyone and school, and I helped him enjoy school. I brought in ceramics as an art project, working from greenware. Instead of fighting violently with a snarly face, he was smiling and gently holding the pieces like a baby. He became a different person, learned better, and had a whole new demeanor. He had such a talent in art and was able to mentor and aid others on their projects!

As a teacher living off of a humble salary, I would put most of it into my house, to be completely honest. We have needed to update our kitchen. This would help to pay for this. We have had to be frugal, so updates to our modest, 1970’s home have not been completed. I am still perfectly happy with what I have in life, though! Good things in life can take awhile. I do believe in placing part of any blessings back to God, so we would have a larger offering for our church that day, too!