Student and teaching mentor come full circle

Accepting a teaching position this fall at Oak Mountain Elementary School meant coming home in more ways than one for second grade teacher, Sara Askew. The Birmingham native grew up attending Oak Mountain schools, but most recently has been teaching at Vincent Elementary.

A University of Alabama graduate, Askew also had the rare opportunity to return to her childhood elementary school to fulfill a portion of her student teaching requirements.

 “I couldn’t turn down a chance to go back home,” said Askew, who did her student teaching at OMES under the guidance of second-grade teacher Ferris Smith. 

Askew said Smith influenced her most with her humble and calm demeanor around the young students. 

“That’s such an important factor when working with little ones,” she said. “It comes so natural to her, and seeing that was really good for me.”

 Now, in her first year teaching at OMES, Askew’s own classroom happens to be right across the hall from Smith’s. As a new teacher to OMES, Askew benefits from the school’s unique Teacher Mentor/Mentee program, where all first-year teachers have an assigned mentor to assist them with instructional, professional and personal needs.

 Askew said in many ways she thinks of the school as her home away from home. In fact, when she received news that she’d been hired for the new teaching position, just one thing came to mind. 

“It was meant to be,” she said.

-Submitted by Kate Agliata