Brooke Davis is returning to where it all began for her.
Davis attended Denair schools from kindergarten through 12th grade, graduating in 2014. Now, she’ll be a Special Education Inclusion teacher at Denair Elementary Charter Academy.
“I never really thought too much about my time in Denair while I was there,” said Davis. “All I could think about was moving on in life. But the older you get, you start to think, ‘You know what? That was a special part of my life.’ You begin to understand how big a role teachers play in your life. To be able to return to the community that gave so much to me is very special.”
After graduating from DHS, Davis attended Stanislaus State, shifting her major multiple times.
“I really don’t know how I became a teacher,” she joked. “I had always been a babysitter, and from babysitting I started working in an after-school program. Then I started working as a paraeducator, then I started substitute teaching. I ended up falling in love working with autistic children.”
Here are some other things to know about Brooke Davis.
Family members: Husband Austin Davis (husband), 3-year-old daughter Laramie, and son Cohen, who will soon celebrate his first birthday.
Educational background: Denair High School, CSU Stanislaus (where I received my BA in Psychology), and Teachers College of San Joaquin (where I received my mild/moderate and extensive-support needs credentials).
Previous teaching jobs: Paraprofessional at Turlock Unified School District for two years in a pre-formal autism classroom. Being a paraprofessional inspired me to become a teacher, and that is what I did next. For the last five years I was a Special Day Classroom autism teacher at TUSD.
Subject/grades taught at Denair: I will be the newest hourly Special Education Inclusion teacher.
What attracted you to Denair? Since I started teaching, I have always talked about coming back to Denair, where I grew up. Ultimately, my goal was to come back and give my all to the community that gave me the foundation that has made me the educator I am today.
What most inspires you about teaching? Helping young minds grow, build confidence, and being all that they can be … and more.
What is a challenge you look forward to tackling this year? I am super excited to help all the students feel welcomed, supported, confident, and to reach for the stars.
What is a favorite teaching tool or activity? I like starting the year with “All About Me” collages for my students. It is always a great time to learn about each student and what they love. As for a teaching tool, Classroomscreen is one I have come to love. It helps keep every activity organized throughout the day, as well as keep the students prepared for expectations in the activity. It’s like my own assistant, and students love all the visuals and activities. It helps make everyone in the room feel confident in what they are currently learning.
What do you want your students to remember? That I was someone who gave them the confidence to be able accomplish their goals.
What can parents do to support you? Collaborate and communicate with their child’s teacher/team.
What is something that would surprise people about your job? Being an inclusion
specialist is a job that blends many different skills: teaching, collaboration, problem solving, advocacy, and relationship building.
What do you do for fun? Bake! I enjoy baking sourdough, cookies, and having homemade pizza nights with my husband and kids. It has been extremely fun to share my love of baking with my kids. They truly are enjoying the messes and yummy treats.
A little-known fact about me is … I have swum with dolphins two times.
