Our "Employee Spotlight" series aims to showcase the unique personalities, talents, and stories that contribute to the success of our district. This section celebrates the incredible individuals who make our Lansing USD469 community thrive.
Josie Nelson, 6th Grade Math Teacher
Question: How long have you worked in Lansing USD469?
Answer: Just this year!
Question: Can you tell us a bit about yourself and the role you have within the school district?
Answer: I am from Bellevue Nebraska and have loved math my whole life. One of my biggest inspirations in teaching is my family that taught in this district for years and retired here. Funny enough, I had no idea until after taking the job. It felt like such a full circle moment when I learned that, and I just know I truly belong here.
Question: What do you enjoy most about your role and the work you do in the school district?
Answer: What I enjoy most about my role and the work I do is connecting with students and watching them grow throughout the year inside and outside of the classroom. I relied on my teachers a lot in school and always felt like I had someone around who cared. Not everyone gets that same experience, but I hope to provide that for students in my building.
Question: When you're not working, what hobbies or activities do you enjoy?
Answer: I love reading books when I get the down time and watching/attending sporting events. I grew up in a very sporty household so I watch just about everything. If it is the summer time, I'd be traveling.
Question: What is something unusual about you that most people don't know?
Answer: I usually talk about how I played soccer for 16 years but I was also in color guard during high school (the people that dance and twirl and throw the flags with the marching band).
Question: Could you share a particularly heartwarming or memorable experience you've had while working with students or colleagues?
Answer: I had one student of mine really struggling with one of the concepts we were going over in math and they came to get help a lot. When we took the quiz over it and I passed back their results, they had gotten a 100%. They were so proud of themselves and couldn't stop smiling the rest of class. Watching them experience that moment and see what they were capable of was amazing to see.
Question: What piece of advice would you like to offer to students to help them succeed and make the most of their educational journey?
Answer: Some advice that I would offer to my students is to always ask questions. I know it sounds so much easier saying it than doing it, but as someone who took a long time to speak up, I could have done so much better in so many classes if I had asked questions. Even if it's not in front of class, getting help is so so important and so many of your peers need just as much help as you.