Blogs

March 7 was Employee Appreciation Day, but we’re celebrating our team members all month long by sharing their stories. Read more about Lashaunda Carter, a Special Education Teacher at our Rivermont Hampton campus. 

What is your favorite thing about working here?  

I enjoy working in the private day school setting because it gives me the autonomy to be creative with my lesson plans, themes, and curriculum guides. I love to cater to teaching ideas and topics that are the interests of my students because it keeps them more engaged and curious. I feel like I would not have that sense of autonomy nor the support of a student-focused learning style in a public-school setting.  

What keeps you coming to work each day?  

That I get to make a difference in my students’ lives; that I get the opportunity to teach them and hopefully change their attitude and mindset towards education and learning. Most of my students have had negative experiences in school and I love it when I can light the spark of curiosity inside them to get them excited about school again.  

How do you make an impact on students’ lives?  

Learning what interests the students and tailoring my lesson plans to their interests, empowering them, building therapeutic relationships with them, and setting up incentives for them to earn for their academic success.  

Which one of our Better Together values resonates with you most personally and why? (Integrity, Accountable, Collaborative, Inclusive, Supportive)  

Supportive, because I thrive in a supportive working environment with my coworkers and believe that students need to feel supported in the classroom, as well as with their dreams and goals to feel empowered and valued.  

What does a “day in the life” look like for your role?  

Facilitating lesson plans, accommodating scheduled lesson plans to fit the mood of the class and ensure students feel successful, utilizing the methods of PBIS (Positive Behavior Instructional Support) to promote productive student behavior, processing with students about cause and effect relationships if and when a conflict occurs, tracking student data ( academic and behavior); writing Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), updating student progress reports of those IEPs and grades, and implementing social skills lesson plans and teambuilding exercises to help students develop leadership skills.  

Can you talk a little bit about your career trajectory and what led you to where you are now?  

I began working at Rivermont in 2006 as a Mental Health Associate. I began working as a Special Education Teacher in 2007. I ended up leaving Rivermont for 3 years due to relocating to another state; however, when I returned to Virginia, there was a position open at Rivermont and I began working there again in 2013. I have worked in various capacities at Rivermont and have enjoyed the experience. I hope to move up in the company and continue to inspire others, as well as work with my team to make a difference. 

What has been your proudest moment or accomplishment in your role?  

My proudest moments are when I attend the graduations of my seniors every year.  

What is something about you that not many people know?  

When I get home at the end of the workday, I constantly reflect on the day and organize ideas in my head that can help my students perform better in the classroom setting. If a lesson did not go as planned, I reflect on ways I could have facilitated it better and strive to improve my lesson plans, so students are enjoying the process of learning. I struggle to find balance in my life because I care deeply about the wellbeing and education of my students. At times, I bring this stress and concern into my personal life, but this is because I truly care for and love each one of my students.