Dodi Hunt became a third-grade teacher at Redland Elementary because her children attended, and she knew it was a great school. “I love the sense of community at RES, and the administration is supportive. I am blessed to work with wonderful teachers.” For Mrs. Hunt, third grade is pivotal for a student’s academic success. Third-grade students are transitioning from learning how to read to comprehending and synthesizing the information they are reading. “Most third-grade students are independent but loving, so it is the best of both worlds,” she shares.
With a bachelor’s and master’s degree in elementary education from the University of West Alabama, Mrs. Hunt has utilized her skills by creating a positive learning environment to improve her students’ academic performance and build goals. She believes this is the best way to ensure her student’s success in the classroom and beyond. Mrs. Hunt also feels that being a teacher goes beyond teaching lessons and interpreting data.
She shares that great teachers are intentional, in her opinion: intentional in motivating students, building relationships with students and parents, planning engaging lessons and activities, and supporting and challenging students. “I believe that students thrive in positive environments where they feel valued and supported, and my goal every year is to create such an environment for my students.”
Through her teaching experience, she wishes more people understood the emotional toll that teachers face. Teachers must manage a classroom full of diverse individuals with different needs, and a one-size-fits-all approach does not work. Some students have wonderful and happy homes, but the ones who aren’t as fortunate often weigh on the heart and mind.
Dodi tries to make a positive impact on her students’ lives, but she often wonders if it is enough. She shares, “It is difficult to flip the switch at the end of the school day, but there is still no other profession in which I would rather be.”
She plans to teach for many more years in some capacity, but after retirement, she hopes to travel with her husband and spend time with her children and extended family.
Dodi Hunt has been married to Chad Hunt for four years. They have a blended family of six children.