Web Extra: An extended interview with new Westside teacher Claire Hofmann

Hofmann tells us what it's like to work for the district she graduated from and to be back in the classroom after student teaching.

Three News Now.

Web Extra.about your first game hereto remind what emotions haup as 1st 80 change.

Um deUm I feel like I was veryall the brand new teachersweek early, so I've had twgood training and planninghere for many years and soresource to you.

So um youoverwhelming at times justeven know where to start oto just have time and peopno lack of people to ask.has been really helpful ofreminders and lots of checwhat I was going to be doiyou between why?

How did ywhen I went to college I kideas that you don't wantmaybe I'll consider nursinsure, but I did some shadofell in love with teachingin the third grade classroback, I knew that I was indoing what I wanted to domust graduate a little bitin massage growing up.

UmWest side, my mom taught ithen going through it, I welementary school and thenschool and I always just raspect of West side and itcome back because I'm seeiI had and people who knowjust been such a good commknow each other and supporum I actually decided to sof someone I talked abouthad been one of my teacheryeah I'll help you get setthey're really big on keepcommunity.

So um I alwayswhen I was in high schoolWest side has with its neiI knew I would, if I cameand that's why I decided tkind of every step of yourhere.

What's that been likback home?

Yeah, it's beenI feel like I've had a lotbecause I was a West sideput a good word in for me,at the high school and theteacher tammy Lewis at Rocand she was just so supporme um get placements in thjust felt very supported athe teachers love teachingbecause they want to keepthat was really cool to seWest side has really goodof people who stay and keea lot of years, so that wathe district they teach fobe a part of that.

Do youyou kind of went through athat you can relate to youbit more about.

Yeah, I thlike um I subbed in Swansoway you went here too.

Soan immediate connection anhave someone in common thaway to build relationshipsthat you come from a similuh, what hopes, uh, achievthat this is your first yeUm I would just want my cland accepting place wherebelong, especially with laturbulent up and down withall the time.

I would likeplace where things are conand that kids feel supportgoing on in other aspectsthey come here and the expand consistent all the timin this building that specthat this is a place whereyou're here to do your joband supported, Especiallyof last year, I think a loneed that this year and whof starting after last yeagoing on.

There's still debeing made that relates tocrazy for everyone for schimportant first year back.having your teaching in thyear?

Um it's definitely cfeel like it's motivatingwe finally have a chance ton track and I'm just excia lot of growth because laof, you know, just do thegiven your situation.

Butyear it's just do your besexcited to see their progrit's been really helpful tthat they had last year toof how last year impactedsuper helpful to get an idout for and who might needsome areas.

But yeah, I thgreat group who's ready toThey seem really excited.to people and getting ideamissed out on and areas whof some of the teachers thinteresting, weird, what'sto go into your mind withhey, I'm your colleague noYeah, it's funny because ifeel like I graduated thatI feel like it was last yecheering at a football gamfunny and one of the peopldevelopments um was my teaand then we just got to tashe was in the same sororiSo it's just funny to havepath and then be back as his weird and, but it's funlike I turned out okay, Sowow, you've grown so much,you here.

I feel um suppor