April 11, 2019
Aldridge honored as Lake Road Teach of the Year
Dedicated educators are not sparse across the Poplar Bluff R-1 School District, but the amount of dedication Lake Road second grade teacher Kasi Aldridge puts in far exceeds the standard of greatness. Putting her students first in everything she does is why Aldridge was selected to represent Lake Road Elementary as the 2019-20 Teacher of the Year...
Dedicated educators are not sparse across the Poplar Bluff R-1 School District, but the amount of dedication Lake Road second grade teacher Kasi Aldridge puts in far exceeds the standard of greatness.
Putting her students first in everything she does is why Aldridge was selected to represent Lake Road Elementary as the 2019-20 Teacher of the Year.
“Mrs. Aldridge’s students would say they felt loved by her and that she gave them more than just an education,” said Lake Road third grade teacher Jessica Burnette, who nominated Aldridge. “She gives them a part of herself every day.”
Fellow Lake Road Elementary teacher Martha Henry said Aldridge is a wonderful representative for the district.
“Education is an evolving process and she adjusts quickly and thoroughly to the newest demands and findings,” Henry said of Aldridge. “She will often be the first to pilot a program in her classroom without calling attention to herself.”
Since at Lake Road, Burnette said she can’t remember a year Aldridge didn’t have a class with various needs.
“She has had many challenging students as well as those tranquil predestined for greatness students and I can assure you they were engaged in her classroom,” Burnette said. “She pushed them to be better than they even knew possible and did not let any one of the students slip through the cracks. She instead motivated them and found out the best way to meet their social and emotional needs first and then their academic ones.”
Aldridge earned a degree in K-12 special education from Central Methodist University and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from Arkansas State University. She has been working at Lake Road since 2013.
Aldridge was born and raised in Poplar Bluff and graduated from Poplar Bluff High School. She is active in her community and spends her free time working with the local Shrine Club.
She is a member of West Side Church of God and coaches the Color Guard in the fall that performs with the Poplar Bluff SHO-ME Band. She is also very active with Center Stage, a community theater.
Aldridge is married to Bryan, who co-owns Semo Carpet Doctor with his father. They have two dogs.
Throughout her life, Aldridge said she has continually been drawn back to the idea of teaching and helping children.
“My grandmother was a teacher at Mark Twain and taught remedial math and reading,” she said. “In my young adult life I worked at Girl Scout Camp Latonka and AmeriCorps working with young scouts and tutoring students. I discovered I enjoyed leading children, particularly struggling learners and eventually went to school for special education.”
Being named Lake Road Teach of the Year is a tremendous honor, Aldridge said.
“Everyone works so hard out here and does such an amazing job I don’t even feel like I can compare sometimes,” Aldridge said. “It definitely makes me feel appreciated and valued as a member of such an amazing team.”
Leslie Jarrett said she immediately wanted Aldridge as her son’s second grade teacher since meeting her.
“She inspires the kids to want to do good in class and even when they aren’t,” Jarrett said. “She strives to make learning fun for all kids in her class and even includes parents to get involved with their learning.”
Aldridge believes every student can learn with the right attitude and guidance.
“If my students don’t learn anything else from me, they learn how to be better, respectful students,” she said. “After respect is formed then they can be open to letting me help them.”
Aldridge added her students always will know she loves them, even when they have tough times.
“They know I love mistakes, projects, effort, dogs and Harry Potter. But, when they know me they know they can be vulnerable and that is when learning can happen,” she said.
Students who have gone on from Aldridge’s class still speak highly of her as well.
A former student of Aldridge described her as “super amazing at teaching second grade.”
“You are so nice and kind that you probably have millions and thousands of friends,” the student wrote in her letter of recommendation.
Fatima Kach credits her love of Harry Potter to Aldridge and said she will recall her time with her for the rest of her life.
“Even if we are no longer in her classroom we know that we can still depend on her everyday,” Kach said.
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