For Kara Grace, Denair has always felt like home. Though she grew up in nearby Turlock, she attended church with her family in Denair, and her first job was at a pizza parlor in town. It seems natural, then, that her teaching career would lead her back to familiar surroundings.
“I’ve always had positive feelings about Denair,” said Grace, who owned her own photography business before deciding to pursue a career in education. “Everybody’s super friendly, and it’s a very community-focused environment in the sense that I can tell there’s a lot of parent involvement and a lot of compassion from the staff. I like the size of the school and the student-to-teacher ratio. It all seems like a good fit.”
Here are a few other things you probably didn’t know about Grace.
Family members – One middle-schooler, one high-schooler, one rescue cat, and one dog.
Educational background – I received my associate of arts degree in English at Modesto Junior College, following my high school education at Turlock High. At MJC, I acquired an education in child development, which supported my role as a pre-school teacher. I also took a photography class, and that segued into a decade of owning a successful photography business. Twenty years later, I enrolled at San Joaquin Delta College (Stockton) to acquire my license to work as a speech and language pathology assistant. I’m a lifelong learner and am so grateful for the adventures on which learning has taken me.
Subject/grades taught – I have taught preschool (4-5 year olds).
What attracted you to Denair? – Denair is close to home in more ways than one. I grew up going to church next door to the district office, and the first job I ever had was working across the street at Pizza Plus. With friends in the district who’ve happily chosen this community for its quality and character, DUSD seems a perfect choice to reconnect with my roots while beginning this new chapter.
What most inspires you about teaching? – Being able to connect genuinely with students, especially those who may struggle in the school environment, is what continues to motivate me in this work.
What is a challenge you look forward to tackling this year? – As a first-year speech and language pathology assistant, I am looking forward to expanding my ability to offer holistic therapy to my students.
What is a favorite teaching tool or activity? – “Would You Rather?” is probably the best game that ever was created. I have no doubt a therapist invented that game to trick teenagers into talking.
What do you want your students to remember?
“There is a voice inside of you
That whispers all day long,
I feel that this is right for me,
I know that this is wrong.
No teacher, preacher, parent, friend
Or wise man can decide
What’s right for you – just listen to
The voice that speaks inside.”
– Shel Silverstein
What can parents do to support you? – It seems like a small thing, but the benefits of sitting down each night and reading with your child is so important. If reading is a struggle, just looking at pictures together and making up a story, or letting your child tell the story, works just as well. These 15 minutes cultivate language development, a love for learning, and a sense of connection – all things that will improve your child’s success in and out of school.
What’s something that would surprise people about your job? – Speech and language pathology doesn’t just focus on speaking more fluently, it also addresses social skills and empowers children to feel more confident in themselves.
What do you do for fun? – My newest passion is car-camping. I built a temporary “camper” in my CR-V and took a trip to the coast this summer. Next summer, I plan to travel through the Pacific Northwest into Canada. I love having new experiences! Small towns and you-pick farms are my favorite finds when I’m traveling. I also love writing poetry and children’s books, taking photos, gardening, kayaking, and cooking.
One interesting, little-known fact about me is … I really enjoy using my creativity to make things I need or want out of things others likely would discard.
