Teacher Spotlight: Elaine Wilkinson, Chiles Elementary

Name: Elaine Wilkinson
Hometown: Tampa
School: Years teaching there: 10 (since its opening in 2001)

1. What interested you initially about education?

Wilkinson: I always wanted to work with kids, even in my early days of babysitting. I always liked being around them.

2. What has changed about education in the last five years?

Wilkinson: We've definitely raised the bar on kids and are challenging them more than in the past. It's different from when I was in second grade. They know technology and some of my second-graders even know multiplication. I don't remember knowing multiplication in second grade.

3. What would you like to be changed about the educational system?

Wilkinson: Our time constraints. There's so much to do in a little period of time. It's like there's not enough hours in the day. I don't know if there's a way to change that, that's just the way it is.

4. What is your least favorite thing about education?

Wilkinson: I would go with time constraints. Our days stay so busy and you feel you didn't accomplish everything you wanted to.

5. Do you think teaching is an attractive job to job seekers today?

Wilkinson: I personally love teaching so to me it will always be an attractive job. You just really have to enjoy your grade level. To me, it will always be attractive to someone who loves being around kids.

6. Anything else?

Wilkinson: You just basically have to have a lot of patience and you have to learn and accommodate your students. The bottom line is it can be really rewarding.