It’s a butterfly! It’s an elf! It’s the Cat in the Hat! No, wait … it’s Teacher Aide Debbie Stiles from Jackson Heights, today’s honoree for Education Support Professionals Week!
“Debbie is reliable, fun, and flexible,” begins principal Ryan Estey. “She even shows up on days in costumes to greet kids with other wonderful support staff.” Previous outfits have included a Hawaiian luau theme and multiple clown get-ups—all to make students smile!
“I am an inclusion aide in fourth grade with door duty every morning,” Debbie says. “I love starting my mornings seeing all the students coming in for breakfast. Our faces are the first ones they see coming in, so no matter how rough our day is we always greet them with a smile, a hug, a listening ear or just saying ‘good morning!’”
Mrs. Stiles constantly talks to kids during lunches and recess to build relationships. “She is a rock-solid figure for the students and provides them with a safe and enriching environment in which to learn,” Mr. Estey says. “She works very hard in her role as academic support and continuously looks for ways to help the staff and students be successful.”
Debbie says the most rewarding part of her job is receiving hugs from students, because it makes her day — and theirs too! “I provide a safe place for students to come to when they need help or just when they need to talk,” she notes. “I assist them in achieving their goals and encourage them to keep trying to improve. I also enjoy seeing students who have moved on from Jackson and how they have grown.”
In her 4 years with Jackson Heights, she has learned to adapt to the ever-changing educational curriculum by “going with the flow.” She also says she couldn’t do her job without the support of her colleagues.
Mrs. Stiles grew up in New Jersey, and graduated from Pompton Lakes High School. Throughout her life, she’s been a daycare worker, preschool aide, lunch monitor, supervisor, crossing guard, cook, concession worker, board member and now inclusion aide. Her life and jobs have always been kid-focused, including countless hours with Junior Achievement over a 6-year span. She moved to Queensbury in August of 2002, has been married 30 years, and has two adult sons, Travis, and Garret. In her downtime she enjoys spending time with her family and friends.
Throughout the week, Nov. 18-22, we are highlighting our “school superheroes” whose various careers touch the lives of our students and pave the way for success! Education Support Professionals—our teacher aides, teaching assistants, secretaries, custodians, and many other team members—play a crucial role in every school building, every day. Check back every day this week to read about our superhero team members who are being honored during ESP Week 2024!