Sydney Johnson: Mom at home and everywhere she goes

Sydney Johnson teaches Pre-K special education at Smithville Elementary School. She has been teaching pre-school for three years and did CDC K-2 for two years. Prior to teaching she was a social worker.

“My passion is with children, so I ended up in special Ed,” she said.

Sydney moved to DeKalb County from Adamsville, which is a small town in West Tennessee. She went to college at Austin Peay and got her license in special education at MTSU.

Sydney said her job is challenging. “It’s challenging to work with kids who need you in ways that a typical child doesn’t need you,” she explained. “And assuring that you’re filling their needs in that way.”

After a day of work, her mind is still going on ways to improve her craft. “I talk about it all the time and I’m always thinking of ideas to make my classroom better and to and to help my students.”

As for rewards, Sydney said there are many when it comes to teaching special education. “Seeing the children hit their goals is the most rewarding part of it all,” she said.

When she is not teaching, Sydney said she is being a mom. “I have a kids so I’m just a mom,” she laughed. “I’m mom at home and I’m mom everywhere I go.”