Interview with Jennifer Chambless, January 27, 2018

Partial Transcript: We're a very diverse school. If took a pie chart and cut it four or five ways it would be equal.

Segment Synopsis: Chambless discusses the demographic of her school which includes many bilingual and non-english speaking students.

Keywords: Chattahoochee Elementary; Elementary music; suburban

Partial Transcript: I came to it late. I didn't start my second education - I didn't come back until I was 46.

Segment Synopsis: Chambless discusses how music has always been a passion but she did not finish her degree until her son started school. Not only did she finish her degree later than expected but when first hired the school was ill prepared for a music class.

Partial Transcript: There was no such thing hardly as kids who didn't have both their mom and dad at home.

Segment Synopsis: Chambless discusses how different teaching is compared to what she expected. She also discusses how she took herself a little too seriously when she first started teaching and how it was nearly impossible to learn everything needed while taking classes in college.

Keywords: academically; family nucleus; paperwork; quality of education

Partial Transcript: That as long as I loved what I was doing and having a good time, that I would teach.

Segment Synopsis: Chambless shares that she is fortunate enough to be in a position where she is able to choose whether she would stay in teaching.

Partial Transcript: I think the work ethic of foks today coming out of college is different today than what it was when I should have come out of college.

Segment Synopsis: Chambless discusses how much time teaching demands and how the latest generations of teachers are not accustomed to having to work hard as hard as her generation at acheiving goals.

Partial Transcript: The first concert, parapro stood right next to student, sang right with him. Second concert he stood up there by himself.

Segment Synopsis: Chambliss shares the story of a student who managed to overcome challenges in music and the impact it had on her.

Keywords: chorus

Partial Transcript: Their stress level came down to the teachers and they were a little more difficult.

Segment Synopsis: Chambless discusses a few challenges that she has overcome that came from both administration and from students.

Partial Transcript: I think when the kids can - You can relax a little bit and not be that strict 1-2-3-4 teacher and you kind of relax a little bit and kids take over the class.

Segment Synopsis: Chambless describes how a relaxed classroom can produce some light-heared moments.

Partial Transcript: Before I moved to this school three years ago, I had decided that if I did not get a transfer that it was time to retire.

Segment Synopsis: Chambliss discusses why she would have changed careers.

Partial Transcript: She does have rules but she really does love us.

Segment Synopsis: Chambless discusses a person who encouraged her during impossible times. She also uses similar lessons from her mentor to encourage her students.

Keywords: motivate students; teaching style

Partial Transcript: She had a vast knowledge of music and the way to teach but her elementary - it's was a different animal.

Segment Synopsis: Chambless discuesses how she mentored a teacher who became a mentor.

Partial Transcript: He just taught me that you can't judge somebody by their perceived ablilities are..

Segment Synopsis: Chambless discusses how a student encouraged her to keep improving her teaching skills.