Educator Of The Month: Stephanie Earley

Just like her students at Broadneck Elementary School, kindergarten teacher Stephanie Earley never stops learning.

She cited an example from a recent lesson when children asked about the location of a Canadian town, one that Earley then had to research online.

“It shows that they’re really thinking,” Earley said of her students. “That’s why I feel that I learn something new every day.”

Earley has taught at Broadneck Elementary for 10 years and in education overall for 20 years, covering kindergarten and the first, second and third grades. But teaching was not always the plan.

She considered a career in advertising while attending the University of South Carolina. Ultimately, she wanted to be closer to home. Earley grew up in Cape St. Claire and played volleyball at Broadneck High School.

Her first teaching gig came alongside her sister, a fellow educator.

“I really love kids, and it’s a good job when having a family,” said Earley, who has three kids — a daughter in eighth grade, a daughter in fifth grade and a son in first grade.

Her husband is a Capitol Police officer and K9 technician, so her 20 students love hearing about the family’s three dogs.

Whether they are planning to learn about dogs or history, Broadneck Elementary kindergarteners always come to school with enthusiasm.

“They are just fun,” Earley said. “They are little sponges, and they absorb everything that is said. I always wake up and am ready to see them and get hugs from them.

“Each classroom is like a little family and they think about you,” she added, noting that students often bring her cards.

That positivity continues throughout that day, regardless of the difficulty of that day’s schedule.

“Kids rise to the occasion,” Earley said. “Our curriculum right now is really rigorous, but my kindergarteners are loving it and I’m loving it. They’re learning about photosynthesis, the Mayflower and Native American tribes.”

When it comes to her teaching style, Earley likes to incorporate movement. “If we’re learning about a topic, (the kids) might need a brain break,” she said. “Like we were learning about pollination and about bees, so we started acting like bees and flapping our wings.”

Broadneck is a great community with a supportive parent-teacher organization, she emphasized. The school is active with events including a fun run in the fall and spring fling, which Earley compared to a talent show.

“It’s a kids showcase … you get to see all these kids on pogo sticks with lacrosse sticks throwing back and forth,” she said as one example. “They’re so talented.”

Although teaching can be challenging, Earley would recommend it as a career.

“The rewards and growth you see in your students will overshadow any difficult times or trials you can overcome,” she said. “It’s one of the most rewarding jobs you can have.”