Educator Spotlight: May and Reed

JULIE MAY

Grant Elementary student wellness specialist Julie May embodies the Vision of a Lakewood Ranger competency of empathy, mixed in with a heaping dose of compassion. Whether it's with her students, her rescue dog, or the planet, Julie brings a natural sense of care to all that she does.

Julie, who joined the District in 2019, ensures her classroom is a place where students can build their empathy, learn to identify feelings, and put themselves in one another’s place. She approaches her interactions with the students with a favorite quote in mind: “Be the person you needed when you were younger.” 

“It’s about seeing the world through that lens,” says Julie, “always thinking about how I can relate to the kids and help them grow in all aspects, not just academically.”

Another lens in which Julie views her work is through global citizenship and global awareness. She founded the Grant Green Team in 2023 and has guided the club to achieve impressive results in regards to recycling and composting in the cafeteria and empowering students to be leaders in modeling and teaching behavior that promotes healthy lives and a healthy Earth.

Julie’s concern about educating the whole child has been with her since her early career days as a social worker. That care for nurturing all aspects of her students led her to start Play Club, which meets before school three times a week. The club offers unstructured time for play and all the positive developmental steps that come with it. 

Julie’s colleagues are impressed with her efforts: Says one of her peers: “Julie is an invaluable support to both students and staff. She consistently meets students’ social-emotional and behavioral needs with care and skill…Her dedication and positive impact make her truly deserving of this recognition.”

 

JENNIFER REED

 

Grant Elementary paraprofessional Jennifer Reed starts her workday welcoming students from the carline and offering each student a smile and a nice word before they begin their day. Not everyone loves carline duty, but as Jennifer says, “that welcome might be the one glimmer in their day.”

That’s just one example of how Jennifer, who has been with the District for 10 years, strives to help students succeed in their school day and beyond. Says one of Jennifer’s colleagues: “Jennifer consistently goes above and beyond to ensure the students she supports feel valued, understood, and capable of meeting their goals. She helps them build both confidence and independence.”

Jennifer is known to be a strong collaborator. She works closely with her classroom teachers, and intervention specialists. After each lesson, she confers with them to provide feedback on what does and doesn’t work and then they work together to come up with new strategies. Through this teamwork, she helps create a cohesive approach that benefits each student’s academic and social-emotional development.

An important part of Jennifer’s approach to helping students is to be empathetic of their struggles, and understand where that might be coming from. “I try to think if I were them, how might I want to be treated. We all deserve respect,” says Jennifer. 

Her kind heart doesn’t go unnoticed by her colleagues. “Jen is also thoughtful, kind, and inclusive in all that she does,” says one. “She makes a conscious effort to ensure no student or colleague feels left out, creating a supportive environment where everyone feels respected and valued.”