Tell us about yourself.
I’m starting my 21st year with Owensboro Public Schools and my first year as Owensboro High School’s Assessment & Intervention Coach. I’m married to Cody Cliff, a sergeant with Owensboro Police Department, and we have one amazing baby boy, Connor, who is 8 months old.
How has being a teacher influenced the way you parent your own children?
The part of my parenting that has been most influenced by being an educator is how often we read and work on language with our son even at such a young age. We started reading daily to Connor when I was pregnant and haven’t stopped since!
What’s one lesson you hope to instill in both your students and your own kids?
In both my students and my son, I hope to instill perseverance! They will undoubtedly encounter difficulties and struggles throughout their lives. It may be as small as learning to sit up independently or as big as navigating life-changing choices, but I want them to have the skills to overcome no matter how much they’re being challenged!
How do you balance the demands of teaching with the responsibilities of motherhood?
It starts with lots of prayer! Daily praying for wisdom and guidance to honor Christ as a wife, mother, and an educator! God has blessed me with a big support system with our church, family, and friends. I’m certain I could never balance it without them! Cody is a present husband and father that loves Connor and I so well. When I need to focus on school, he’s there to give me that time! We’re also so blessed to have my sister-in-law, Taylor, stay home with Connor each day we’re at work! It’s such a blessing to know he’s well loved while I’m at school! Not to mention my sister, our parents, other siblings and friends that we can call on anytime to help us pick up daily details that are falling behind!
What has been your proudest moment as both an educator and a parent?
Any educator loves watching others learn! I find so much joy in watching students learn and try new things, and it’s the same with Connor! Watching him learn, lights up my world – whether he’s learning to use his voice, clap, roll, sit or crawl, we celebrate BIG for all of it!
What advice would you give to other parents trying to support their child’s learning at home?
You don’t have to be an educator to support learning at home! Just be present! You are the first teacher your child has, and the one with the biggest impact! Talk with them about the world around them, challenge them, and celebrate them when they try something new! And, of course, read to them every single day!