Pittsboro, NC – It’s all love for 2021-22 Chatham County Schools Instructional Assistant of the Year Larissa Dowdy.
Literally.
“I love children,” Dowdy said.
Dowdy does her work at Pittsboro Elementary School. She teaches alongside exceptional children educator Aimee Nielsen.
Dr. Randy Bridges, the interim superintendent of Chatham County Schools, and Kendra Fisher Haithcox, Pittsboro Elementary’s principal, showed love to Dowdy, saluting her for a job well done.
Nothing but love, according to Dowdy.
“I love working hard to make a difference in each of their lives,” Dowdy said.
Boy, does she ever!
“All the children have different academic, functional and social abilities and levels,” Nielsen said about the students in their classroom. “Rather than grades, each child has individual goals which they are striving to reach. Ms. Dowdy and I help them to reach their goals. She is an integral part of this classroom and carries a breadth of knowledge that comes from years of experience. She is fair, honest and kind. She shares a mutual love and respect with children throughout the entire school.”
There it is, again — love.
“I love to use music to teach children,” Dowdy said. “I find that most children respond to it in a positive way. This is especially the case with children that have limited expressive language abilities.”
Even when it’s time to do discipline, Dowdy does it with a dollop of love.
“I like to make sure children understand expectations and why they are being disciplined,” Dowdy said. “After a disciplinary event, each student is given a fresh start to make new decisions.”
Love that.