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Shawneil Edwards - Day in the life of teacher · Look Who's Talking

• 0:00
  You are listening to Look Who's Talking, brand new podcast with a head start focus.
• 0:23
  I am your co-host Cameron Minter and our host Jessica Coffie is in the building.
• 0:30
  How you doing this morning?
• 0:31
  Hey y'all.
• 0:32
  What is going on with you?
• 0:33
  What's going on with you Cam?
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  Slow motion.
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  It seems like a month of Sundays since our last time together.
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  I know right.
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  I know we got to get it in.
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  We got to get it in.
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  We got to make up for some lost time.
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  I know.
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  But I've had a grandbaby since then so.
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  Yay!
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  Little Nico.
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  Little Nico.
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  How has-
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  I call him Nemo.
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  Go ahead.
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  Finding Nemo.
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  You know what?
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  I've seen pictures and I feel like he looks like you.
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  Like me don't he?
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  Don't he?
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  Yes.
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  I got a light skin finally in the family.
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  And funny colored eyes.
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  I know yeah.
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  What does he have?
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  Blue?
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  Gray?
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  I'm going to say they're like mine and they change colors when I beware so.
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  I know I was like-
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  Isn't that crazy?
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  How does he look so much like Cam?
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  I know right.
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  That's just crazy.
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  But now I got my own so yeah.
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  Do you spoil him?
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  No.
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  I really don't see him now.
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  When my grandbaby was born she and mom was living with us so it was totally different.
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  She got super spoiled.
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  But now I only get them when there's a problem.
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  I was going to say so is there a difference between a grandson and a granddaughter?
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  Oh definitely.
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  Definitely because I'm looking to wait until he gets big enough so I can start punching
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  him and stuff.
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  You know.
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  I'm going to be on house kicking and you know all that type of stuff.
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  You know.
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  It's totally different.
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  You know all that sensitivity and all that.
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  You think you're going to get him into sports?
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  And dad is for sure going to make sure that happens.
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  So yeah sports is definitely in the books and on the plan.
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  But right now he's just yeah he's really chill.
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  I think mom is holding him too much because I'm not going to hold him.
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  You know I'm not doing that at all.
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  How is big sister?
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  Now that's something different.
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  She is really good.
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  She's a great big sister.
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  She called herself monitoring me.
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  Oh so you were the babysitter but she was babysitting you babysitting him.
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  Exactly.
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  I got that.
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  So yeah but she takes care of brother really well and she's transitioning well.
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  Now you know we remind her that she's got to be an example.
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  So is there any jealousy at all?
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  I think so.
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  You know and it's still playing out.
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  You know what I'm saying?
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  What is she eight?
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  She's nine.
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  So she's in the middle because I got a 19 year old grandson.
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  I got her at nine and now we've got Nico.
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  There's just so much so many years in between.
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  I know and she she tries to take the number one spot no matter what.
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  Okay.
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  We see what Nico's going to do.
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  You know he unfortunately when you come third.
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  Hey you got to go with everybody else.
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  So I'm paw paw.
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  I don't care what nobody else say.
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  Right.
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  She's Gigi.
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  So that's what's up.
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  Yay.
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  Well welcome to the new edition.
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  Thank you.
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  Thank you.
• 3:32
  Thank you.
• 3:33
  Thank you.
• 3:34
  What is going on with you?
• 3:35
  Welcome to the new edition of the new edition of the new edition of the new edition of the
• 4:01
  New Edition of the New Edition of the New Edition of the new edition of thethey're
• 4:23
  those around you and let's enjoy life. That's a word. I receive it. I receive it. How about that?
• 4:33
  Coffie breaks. That's an encouraging word. It's important. You gotta manage your circle. Yeah.
• 4:42
  And you know what? Like here recently, I feel like I don't know if it's an effect of COVID or just me
• 4:50
  maturing, but my circle is getting smaller and smaller. Where I want to be like isn't the same.
• 4:59
  Exactly. You used to want to go out, have fun. Now I'm like staying in the house is much more
• 5:06
  enjoyable to me right now. You just getting older. I mean, you know, it also doesn't hurt that you're
• 5:12
  paying that mortgage. So, you know, that puts priorities in line with you when you're making
• 5:19
  such an investment. Listen, did we talk about me having a house? I think we did. I think we did, but what about it?
• 5:23
  Guess what? We didn't talk about this. I've already had a binary condition. Oh, no. That was in before year one.
• 5:33
  No, no. No, see it ain't so. What? It's so. And I look at my bank account. Oh my, my, my. And then I feel the air
• 5:44
  moving in my house. And then I'm like, okay, I'm okay with it. Cause I don't like being hot. I know, right?
• 5:50
  Oh, that's terrible. Yeah. But you know, me and the house are good right now. That's what happens. Now you know, I
• 5:57
  ain't saying aside. I'm saying you need a handyman. I do. You got to have one on call and build
• 6:05
  relationship with cause you gonna need one. I didn't realize how much you need a handyman. I got one. I got one.
• 6:14
  I need a husband too, but we can talk about that later. In lieu of get you a handyman. In lieu of. In lieu of. Yeah.
• 6:25
  I'm with you right there. All right. What we got going on the show today? So guess what? Today we are talking with one
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  of our very special teachers who has been with the agency a little over 13 years now, I think. And with some of her
• 6:46
  like former headstart kids, it's funny because when they see her, they just run up to her. Be like, this Chanel. So we
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  are excited to have her on the show and we kind of want to venture a day in the life of a headstart teacher. Okay.
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  That's what's up today. Yes. We are talking with who? Shawneil Edward.
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  Shawneil Edwards. Chanel. Yes. I'll be looking at her Facebook name. So it is Gentry.
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  And she stumbled like, was that right? Please confirm.
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  I finally struggled with letting the Gentry go. Okay. Yeah. Okay. So it is Edwards.
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  Okay. My bad. All right. Cause I was like.
• 7:41
  It is Edwards. It's definitely Edwards. Welcome to the show. We are so glad to have you in on today's show and you are a
• 7:54
  teacher. Where are you working at? I am a teacher. I am a headstart teacher. Classroom B. Okay. So I work alongside with
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  Ms. LaKeisha. I've been here as stated, be 13 years in November. Have you always been in a headstart classroom?
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  I've always been in a headstart classroom. Yay. Yes. So. You got years of experience in this. Yes. Yes. I've been in
• 8:24
  childcare since 97 right after high school. I've worked at many child cares, but community action is, I will say, my first
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  real experience as far as working with children. So can you explain to us like what's the difference in your previous
• 8:44
  childcare facilities versus headstart? I will explain that because well when my parents come in, some parents are
• 8:54
  still confused with daycare and headstart. And so when I hear that daycare word, it can really. It doesn't even feel like
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  some kind of. I thought I was the only one because I promise you I correct people when they say daycare, I say we are
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  early childhood education. I do care too. Yes, because I have been a daycare worker before and to me that it was more
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  like a babysitting job. And so here we are teachers. Yes. We're not babysitters. Absolutely. You hear it here
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  yourself. Head start is not daycare. We are early education. That's what's up. Put it in writing. Take a picture. You know
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  when people say head start is daycare, it's like fighting words to us. Right. You'd be like, wait a minute. I can't even hear
• 9:51
  the rest of your conversation because I got to clear this up first. Hold on. Let me take my earpiece off because you disrespecting me. Put some respect on the name.
• 9:58
  Oh yeah. That's what's up. So let's talk about do you have a favorite student? Uh oh. You know, because a lot of times, you know, you're not
• 10:11
  supposed to have favorites. You're not supposed to have favorite children, but I don't know if there's anything about a favorite kid.
• 10:18
  So, I do. I do. I have, it seems like each year it's a different one. And so, like as a teacher, like I come in and visit, it's always a little girl like here.
• 10:38
  And so I'll tell her, this is my Brooklyn. You know, everybody knows Brooklyn from the past. So they'll say, is that your Brooklyn? That's my Brooklyn.
• 10:47
  Yes. Yeah. Actually, our last Head Start graduation, Brooklyn was there with her grandmother and Brooklyn has graduated and moved on from Head Start.
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  However, she came to their Head Start graduation last year, put on a robe and was right by Ms. Chanel.
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  She corrected you, didn't she? She corrected you. But you know, you, I'm sure you always have those students that stand out. How do you help in kind of like developing their personality?
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  And what I mean, like when I was younger, I mean, y'all know my personality now. It's questionable. But as a little girl, I remember people saying, hey, you need to calm that down.
• 11:46
  You need to calm who you are down. So for a long time, I felt like, well, I got to be this way. I got to be like everyone else. And it was like almost stifling the development of what my true personality is.
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  Do you have kids with, I'm sure you have kids with vibrant, bright personalities. How do you help them develop that without them feeling like they are not doing the wrong thing or I don't have to be still or sit still and be quiet all the time?
• 12:19
  I just be yourself. You know, there's, you know, they're always thinking that, you know, that they can't do something or and I always tell them and encourage them in this class, you can do what you want to do.
• 12:35
  You know, it's you can. Yes, you can. Like if you want to like when we're dancing, you know, certain dance and they're always saying, well, Sam, I can't do that or I can't. Yes, you can. In this class, yes, you can.
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  So I'm just always constantly encouraging. Yes, you can. That's great. All day. Yes, you can.
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  I love when teachers give encouragement and affirmation to their students. And I think what I would want people to understand and learn is even at this young of an age, because you think about kids who are three and five or three, four and five.
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  A lot of people, if you're not in the early head start world or the head start world, you would think, well, they're not going to remember that they remember everything you say and do.
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  So I think that's very important. Yes. And also, I wanted to say that in the morning as they're coming in, like they're greeted.
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  I'm standing right there and we have Gracie's Corner playing and it's letting them know that today is going to be a great day. Right. So as that's playing, excuse me, I'm constantly saying today is going to be a great day.
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  It's going to be a great day. You know, and I'm and the parents, they'll come in and they're singing too. They're thanking me, letting me know today is going to be a great day, Miss Edwards.
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  And I'm like, I'm going to assure you. But you know what? It's so important that even the parents start their day out like that, because I'm sure after they leave your classroom without, I mean, after hearing Gracie's Corner and today's going to be a good day, that they can go to their job and say, you know what?
• 14:18
  Today's going to be a great, like it's almost like you, I'm touching you, now it's your turn to create the environments for it to be a good day. We kind of like set the tone, you know, and like every day is not going to be because, you know, you have a few.
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  And so, you know, when it's not, you can only see it as it's coming in. So then I can only just, you know, as that parent, pull them to the side. I just ask, you know, is everything okay? You know, what kind of night, you know, they had, you know, I know how to, you know, deal with that.
• 14:52
  So a big part of your job is being personable to the parents, to the families, not only being a teacher that teaches them, but also caring for the family. Absolutely. So that takes a lot of communication. Yeah.
• 15:07
  We're going to take a quick break, but when we come back, we're going to get some more into being Head Start teacher at Community Action Council. You are listening to Look Who's Talking. We'll be right back after the break.
• 15:25
  What?
• 15:33
  I love Head Start!
• 16:04
  This past year has highlighted the strength of Community Action Council. Every day, our staff works together to help families recover from this crisis. We're educating children at home and in person, helping parents who lost their jobs, and helping households avoid eviction.
• 16:20
  Our work at Community Action Council has never been more important than it is right now. So why not join us? We have employment opportunities requiring a range of skills from entry level to advanced. Apply online at commaction.org.
• 16:48
  Welcome back to Look Who's Talking. We are talking with Shania. Now, I know that you've been doing this for about 13 years here. And you just recently, I'm going to say recently, I'm assuming now that you moved over here to South, right?
• 17:05
  South Lex?
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  That I moved over here?
• 17:07
  Yeah.
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  What do you mean, this building?
• 17:10
  Yeah, this building.
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  I was going to say, she's been working this whole time.
• 17:13
  I know. I was just saying, this building.
• 17:15
  We moved from one building to the next.
• 17:17
  So this is a, it's a beautiful building. Great. It's great. It's huge. Blah, blah, blah. But, we got some stairs up in this joint.
• 17:26
  We do have stairs.
• 17:27
  Oh my goodness, we got stairs and you know, I don't know about you, but I'm a little chunky. So when I go up them stairs, it hurts. I go up maybe once or twice a month. How has that transition been for you?
• 17:39
  Once or twice a month, Cam.
• 17:41
  A month. I ain't going up.
• 17:44
  Health is wealth.
• 17:45
  Yes.
• 17:46
  The more you go up and down the stairs, the better it'll be.
• 17:49
  Well, sounds like the ramp is calling my name.
• 17:54
  How's that, how's it been for you? I mean, is that, you know, moving from upstairs to downstairs, has that been a change for you?
• 18:00
  It has been a really big change. Yeah.
• 18:02
  Yeah.
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  Because, as stated, like I've always worked upstairs. And so it's been a really big change. As far as my body.
• 18:12
  Right. Come on now. Let's talk about it. Let's talk about it.
• 18:15
  But it's also good. It's good because I weigh every week and so I'm excited to see a change.
• 18:22
  So now you're against it.
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  Go!
• 18:24
  This didn't go the way I planned.
• 18:27
  So it's also good though. It's not as bad though as I thought.
• 18:31
  Well, when I need something ran upstairs, I'll be looking for you.
• 18:35
  Clearly, Cam has a problem with these stairs.
• 18:37
  What? What?
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  But, you know, this building is huge. It's pretty huge.
• 18:45
  So being able to have all the different classes and that's something that we can talk about too.
• 18:51
  All the different age groups and how many kids that we can accommodate here is really, really one of our largest centers.
• 19:00
  Yeah, it actually is our largest center.
• 19:02
  Okay. I didn't want to say it. So. Yeah. It definitely is.
• 19:05
  Okay. Very good. It's our largest center.
• 19:07
  Yes. And, you know, we've been in this particular building with like two years now.
• 19:15
  So there has been some adjustments. We are close to three, I think.
• 19:22
  And we moved here during COVID. Right. Like right in the middle of COVID.
• 19:27
  Right. Say that. So that was a transition.
• 19:31
  But even COVID allowed us to get the building together so that we could do what we need to do.
• 19:37
  So what's one of the, when you come in, how do you set the tone for yourself?
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  And you told us how you set the tone for the kids.
• 19:44
  What's one of the first things you do when you come into your room?
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  Well, one of the first things to get prepared for the day.
• 19:50
  Well, before leaving the car, I, you know, I pray.
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  Okay. You know, I just ask God to give me strength.
• 19:59
  That's right. To get me through the day.
• 20:01
  What you listening to in the car for you?
• 20:03
  Oh, it's a variety. Okay.
• 20:05
  It's not always gospel. Sometimes it's...
• 20:08
  She listens to first, praise is what I do, then, nuck if you buck.
• 20:12
  And it is. That's all right. That combination works. I'm trying to tell you.
• 20:18
  Don't play with me. Pray with me.
• 20:20
  And that is so true. I love it.
• 20:23
  And then I, you know, can't really slow it, turn it down a little bit, but it gets me right. It does.
• 20:31
  That's all right. I mean, cause you got to have a little salt and pepper in that mix.
• 20:36
  Bring you in. Okay. So then you come in and then what?
• 20:40
  Then I come in and, you know, I just get prepared for, you know, for the day.
• 20:46
  I'm a little funny. You can ask Simone. Simone knows my hangups.
• 20:50
  I'm really particular about how things look, how things are.
• 20:53
  Are you wondering when you come in and see something out of place, be like, what is wrong?
• 20:58
  Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. If something is not... Yeah.
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  If someone... Can you walk in your classroom and be like, somebody was in here cause this isn't in the right place.
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  I can tell.
• 21:12
  That is me. I'm like, oh my God, I can't... All this stuff has got to go. It's got to go. Everything's got a place.
• 21:17
  And I noticed about the Head Start classroom and y'all can go into this cause I really don't know, but there is a place for everything.
• 21:24
  It is. There's not just a place where you can just put something.
• 21:29
  And not only that, it's labeled. So there's no excuse why you can't give what needs to be in the right place.
• 21:37
  Absolutely. Because every moment, every opportunity in Head Start is a learning opportunity.
• 21:43
  Spilled milk is literally a learning opportunity. Absolutely.
• 21:48
  Those labels, everything labeled, we are getting the kids ready to be able to read, to be able to recognize not only the block that's on the...
• 21:58
  That's the actual block, but to recognize the words so that mingles.
• 22:05
  But I think my favorite moment during the daily schedule is meal time because you hear so many vibrant conversations going on.
• 22:18
  But also that is time where children are able to feed themselves and they're working their fine motor.
• 22:28
  You would think just passing a bowl or scooping out your own food, oh, what is that working?
• 22:36
  It's literally working their fine motor skills. They're developing conversations within meal time as well.
• 22:43
  I tell this story all the time. My wife thinks she has a baby with Bree.
• 22:50
  And she used to want to cut up her sausage because she's too young and she'll choke on it.
• 22:56
  I said, that's not what she's learning at school. She's learning to do it herself.
• 23:02
  I mean, she's bamboozling you because she's pouring her own milk.
• 23:06
  And when she's at our house, oh, no, no, no, no, we'll get that because you're going to make all of that.
• 23:11
  And so she just sits back like, I need my meat cut.
• 23:15
  And you know what? It's funny how kids are at home versus when they are so independent at school.
• 23:22
  And some even some parents are like, well, my kid doesn't eat that.
• 23:27
  Will they do when they at school? Exactly.
• 23:30
  And I think I think it's interesting to know, you know, that's another advantage to Head Start.
• 23:36
  Is that they are teaching even home skills, you know what I'm saying?
• 23:41
  Not just educate, you know, just how to enter, how to how to clean up after yourself, how to make you play, how to interact at the table, you know.
• 23:49
  And those are just wonderful things that we say they're too young to do.
• 23:54
  But the classroom is saying, no, they're not. They are very well equipped to do this. Right. Right.
• 23:59
  Yeah. So how do you say if you had a parent for who their child is coming into an established establishment like this for the first time?
• 24:15
  What are you saying to them to hopefully have a successful year?
• 24:21
  Well, would welcome them into our program and just, you know.
• 24:33
  It's just, you know, what do you do to make them feel comfortable?
• 24:38
  Yeah, I feel comfortable. Just, of course, show them around like as if it was like like open house.
• 24:48
  Yeah. You know, I would give them everything and of course, explain to them like going back as far as like, you know, we're not a daycare.
• 24:57
  And I will explain to them that they learn through play.
• 25:03
  I would explain all of the centers and show them, you know, how they learn and, you know, our curriculum and, you know.
• 25:11
  So it's really a partnership. Right. Yes, it is a partnership. Yes.
• 25:17
  Yeah. What is the partnership relationship with?
• 25:21
  I believe it's, you know, just as you're not just taking care of the kid, you're taking care of the family as well.
• 25:28
  So while the children are learning, the parents have opportunities to increase their education and job opportunities.
• 25:36
  Is that correct? Yes.
• 25:41
  The family would get with a family specialist if there was, you know, ever any outside like as far as utilities and stuff like that.
• 25:55
  Yeah. Is needed. And how do you teach a parent or have conversations with the parent to let them know you are their first teacher?
• 26:05
  I'm like, you're like they're really their second teacher. Right. But, you know, how are those conversations?
• 26:11
  Yeah, because you hear a lot that like it starts at home. Like, you know, I'm a mother as well.
• 26:19
  So you you can we just let them know that like I want them to know like I want them to know that, you know, when they're with me, you know, they're safe, of course.
• 26:31
  But I'm going to keep pushing, you know, because not everybody has the tools that we use at school. Right.
• 26:38
  You know, so I'm just going to let them know, you know, that everything that I'm doing as far as like when we meet with the parent conferences and the home visits and stuff like that.
• 26:49
  Right. You said a word that stood out to me and that was safe. You're safe with me.
• 26:55
  Can we talk about some of the things that we incorporate in, say, the children's daily routine or, you know, as an agency to keep children safe?
• 27:06
  Well, when I mean by keeping them safe is I am I am constantly watching.
• 27:12
  I am constantly counting.
• 27:16
  Just just letting the parents know that, you know, I got them.
• 27:20
  Yeah. And as far as it's going back to me being a mother as well.
• 27:24
  Like, I want the same for mine. Right. I'm going to give you the same.
• 27:30
  That's good. That's awesome. We are always enrolling for Head Start. Yes. Is that correct? Yes, we are always enrolling for Head Start.
• 27:40
  So if you are interested in being a part of the Head Start program and finding a wonderful teacher like Shandee.
• 27:47
  You can call eight five nine two three three four six zero zero. I believe there is a form on our website at ComAction.comaction.org and you can sign up there.
• 28:03
  Any last words, Shannil, as we get ready to close the show?
• 28:07
  I would just like to say thank you to this amazing, amazing agency that I work for and thank you for giving me a chance.
• 28:17
  Thank you to my supervisor who believes in me daily and thank you, Miss Shannil for allowing me to do this podcast with you. I appreciate it.
• 28:27
  I think our supervisor is Tracy.
• 28:31
  Did you do the dole? I did do the dole.
• 28:35
  Well, we appreciate everything that you do for our little learners.
• 28:40
  You know, every day for me is a teacher appreciation because you do something every day that I cannot do.
• 28:49
  So we appreciate you and all the work that you not only do on a daily basis, but you've been here 13 years and you have been consistent.
• 29:01
  And we thank you for just being a part of this wild, crazy family.
• 29:07
  But hopefully on with it upward and we will be doing some more great things together.
• 29:14
  Yes, children is not my ministry, but I support those who have it.
• 29:20
  All right. You have been listening to Look Who's Talking. Tell your friends, share the show.
• 29:25
  We'll see you next time.