Sprouting skills: Courtney dives into development

Robert J. Burch Elementary SPROUT program teacher Charmaine Courtney plants seeds of learning in her students.

Together with Carlneshia Heckstall, Courtney builds an inclusive preschool learning environment for children with special needs in her classroom.  

“As a teacher, we do everything in the SPROUT program,” said Courtney. “We look at all areas of development:  Cognitive, social, language, gross motor, fine motor, self help.”

Born in Jamaica, she grew up in New York. She started her teaching career there and has now been at Burch for 13 years with stops at North Fayette Elementary, Hood Avenue Elementary, and Crabapple Lane Elementary before that.

Courtney has been teaching pre-k special education since 1989. She planned to be an occupational therapist, but when she volunteered at a school and saw what a teacher did, she adapted her path.

“I’ve been a pre-k’er pretty much all my life,” she said.

She calls her classes her inspiration. Building bonds with her students gives her purpose.

“It’s actually every child that I’ve ever worked with,” she said. “They need love and affection before you can make them sit down.”

Courtney preaches the importance of patience, both in the classroom and for parents at home.

“Everything takes time,” she said. “You just have to give yourself grace, give them grace, and it'll come in time.”

Courtney sees herself as a guide who helps them grow, and she grows right along with them. She teaches them foundational skills in a fun way.

“That is my why. just seeing the a ha's, seeing the everyday little steps that they take, the smiles,” she said. “You know, there are plenty of days of being challenged, and I am challenged constantly in this classroom, but it helps me grow. It helps me be able to see the bigger picture of things and understand what their needs are and just try to help get them there.”

She lives for the moments when a concept clicks or a solution is found, like when she connected with a non-verbal student, realizing she could read. They were able to start communicating through reading and requesting.

“That is why I teach. That is the a ha moment that we love so much. That is the best feeling in the world,” she said. “Everything you need to learn (for life), you learn in pre-k.”

 

“The Honor Role,” an official podcast for Fayette County Public Schools, features employees, rotating through key stakeholders, including teachers, staff, nurses, custodians, cafeteria workers, and bus drivers. Join us as we dive in and learn about their journeys, their inspirations, and their whys.

Episodes are available on all major podcast platforms, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and promoted on the social media channels of Fayette County Public Schools.

Episodes will also be available here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2200811.