Asbury Educator of the Month: Kaye Ison
When did Kaye Ison of James Lane Allen Elementary School first start preparing for her career as an educator? How about when she was in elementary school herself in Eastern Kentucky?
Young Kaye not only loved attending school (“Even when I was sick, I didn’t want to stay home”), she played school at home. When she couldn’t round up her three siblings to serve as students, she “taught” her stuffed animals.
Using materials she gathered from her teachers, she conducted class to her pretend students at home throughout the summer. She had her own chalkboard and even kept her own grade book.
“I would give out grades just like teachers did,” said Ison, a third-grade teacher at James Lane Allen. “I guess I always knew that I would be a teacher.”
And that’s exactly what she did right out of college. In fact, some of her colleagues at her first job in Perry County were women who taught her when she was in school.
“They took me under their wing and really mentored me,” Ison said. “I liked being the young one. Now I’m the old one on the staff.”
Ison is halfway through her 28th year in teaching, working the past 14 at James Lane Allen where she has taught second and third grade.
Retirement? Forget about it.
“I just love teaching and my dad always worked,” she said. “He was a coal miner and when he came home he’d work around the house. That’s all I know is just working.”
Principal Greg Williams is grateful that Ison remains committed to teaching.
“She always goes above and beyond for her students,” he said. “Her classroom is fun and students are engaged. She has high expectations and pushes kids to be their best.”
Nearly three decades on the job and Ison is still learning. Last year, she attended a professional development session called Literacy Cadre and shared those lessons with her colleagues. Those lessons also work for her Writing Cadre project that helps students improve writing.
She expects hard work from her students so they can meet her high expectations.
“I may be hard on you,” she said about her students, “but it’s because I love you and care about you. I want to instill confidence in my students and broaden their horizons.”
