By Ramsey Sullivan Riverbend News
Channah Galbraith has been teaching for 17 years and is currently a fifth-grade reading and Media Specialist at Lafayette Elementary School, although that wasn't her plan from the start.
While in college, Galbraith was planning to major in sports medicine. However, when she realized her roommate, an elementary education major, was always having fun, she decided teaching might be for her. She also realized that following a team around as an athletic trainer didn't fit into the wife and mom schedule she wanted, which influenced her decision as well.
Considering Galbraith teaches reading, it doesn't come as a surprise that her favorite thing to teach is the love of reading. She wants to teach kids that the love of reading can continue as an adult.
"I love to teach by showing students," said Galbraith. "I try to always have a book in my hands. I love the idea of teaching by modeling. Kids watch and practice what they see."
As with any job, teaching comes with challenges, no matter how much one loves the job. To Galbraith, the most difficult part about teaching is dealing with the factors that she can't control, like home life, state mandated testing and global pandemics, to name a few. However, Galbraith knows she has to control what she can during the hours she has the kids and this has shaped the way she teaches.
"It's so important to always smile, always be kind and compassionate and know that it's okay to veer from the lesson plan if students need a different direction," said Galbraith.
In her spare time, Galbraith loves to read, not surprisingly. She constantly has a book in her hand and loves to talk about it with anyone who will listen. Apart from reading, she also enjoys raising her chickens, ducks and quail and spending time on the golf course or fishing with her family.
Galbraith is married to Butch Galbraith and the pair have two children: Trey Galbraith and Kerrington Galbraith. Trey is currently a ninth-grader at Lafayette High School and Kerrington is a fifth-grader at Lafayette Elementary School.