Audra Turner started her teaching career in Malden, but after having children of her own, she realized that it would be beneficial to teach in the same community where she was raising a family.
Since she started her career as a third grade teacher at the Arthur T. Cummings School, she has not looked back and she is motivated by the support she receives from parents and fellow staff members.
Turner moved to Winthrop from East Boston when she was just three years old. She had many exceptional teachers that encouraged her love of learning, which is why she aimed to strive for higher education. Turner went to UMass Boston where she earned an undergraduate degree in history, and then went on to Simmons College where she received a masters degree in elementary education. She’s teaches in an inclusive classroom at ATC and collaborated with a fellow third-grade teacher to make sure the third-grade math curriculum was aligned to the common core standards.
When did you realize you wanted to be a teacher?
My love of teaching has always been a part of who I am. Even as a child, my sister and I would always play school, disagreeing over who would play the coveted role of teacher. It was in high school when I realized I wanted to teach.
What do you love about teaching?
I love seeing my students make connections. All of those “aha†moments that they have, when what you taught them seeps in, and they start making connections to their lives and everything around them is a wonderful thing to see. As a teacher, I get to see this on a daily basis. It may be as simple as remembering where the pencils are to as difficult as comparing fractions, but it’s there everyday. Teaching in an inclusion classroom also allows me the possibility of seeing my students as compassionate, caring, and empathetic peers. I am constantly amazed by their ability to assist their peers and make sure everyone feels safe and included.
If you weren’t a teacher, what other profession would you pursue?
If I were not a teacher I would love to be a writer. I enjoy telling stories and making people laugh. I use this as a tool to inspire my students when they are writing narratives. To be honest, I can’t imagine myself doing anything other than teaching. I truly love what I do.
Who inspired you to teach?
I am so lucky that I had such wonderful teachers. Mrs. Polo, Mr. Krantz, and Mr. Morrison, to name a few, were teachers that inspired me to go above and beyond. In second grade, Mrs. Polo influenced my love of reading while in high school, Mr. Krantz and Mr. Morrison motivated me to look at the world in a different way. Everyday my students inspire me to be a better teacher and a better person. Of course my parents were an enormous part of my decision. They are the people who encouraged, motivated, and supported me to become the person I am today.
Do your students inspire you?
Teaching students is a daily inspiration. Children force you to be the best you. They don’t ask for anything. They come into third grade not knowing what to expect. They enter into a new building and often know little about the school or teachers. They trust you to do what is best for them, and so do their parents/guardians. As mentioned before, I do love seeing them make academic growth, yet, their ability to empathize with their peers and every effort to include and help everyone is such a beautiful and inspiring thing to see. I am lucky to observe children doing this naturally on a daily basis. I teach because my students teach me something everyday. This is a career that I cherish and I feel lucky everyday.