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PINELLAS PARK, Fla. — Each Tuesday morning, Spectrum Bay News 9 features an A+ Teacher who is inspiring and leading students across the Tampa Bay.
Jennifer Swanson is a kindergarten teacher at Pinellas Central Elementary, and her principal nominated her, saying she finds something in every student to love and makes them feel like they belong.
It’s hard to say who’s more excited by Jennifer Swanson being named our A+ Teacher, her, or her students. Her principal made the official announcement to her class, “The news is here, and she’s our Bay News 9 A+ Teacher of the week, can we congratulate her?,” and all the kids screamed, cheering for Ms. Swanson.
While she was taken by surprise, Jennifer says the hugs and congratulations that came after were well worth the shock. Jennifer normally teaches kindergarten, but she taught first graders for summer bridge. She says there’s nowhere she’d rather be this summer break.
“I love the kids. I love spending time with them every day. They’re just my whole reason to come here. I just love it. I love my job. I think they’re so fun, and I love getting hugs and feeling like a superstar every day,” said Jennifer.
Her students are known as the “Swanson Sweeties” on campus, and it’s just one of the ways she makes each child feel like they’re appreciated and belong, which is very important during the first year of school.
“I like being their first experience with school and showing them learning can be fun and just being happy to come to school every day, I love that,” said Jennifer.
“They learn so much. They go from not knowing their letters and sounds to reading books to me and I feel like, ‘oh my gosh, I get to teach someone something they’re going to do every day for the rest of their life’, it just makes me so happy,” she said.
Jennifer says knowing she’s having that kind of impact on these little lives keeps her going.
If you would like to nominate a teacher who is making a difference, you can find the A+ Teacher nomination form on our website.
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Fallon Silcox
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