Get to Know the Teachers: Julie Knight

Get to know 4th grade teacher Julie Knight

Watch the full interview here:

"Hi my name is Julie Knight and this is my first year here at Oakhill Day School and I teach 4th grade."

Q: Tell us about your life before Oakhill.

A: "I taught, all in public education and I taught for the North Kansas City School District in the classroom. For about 15 years in the classroom and then the last three I was an instructional coach for North Kansas City. And then I took a year off to volunteer with the City Union Mission and I had decided that I was going to retire early. And so I just thought I was done with education and clearly I'm not. Here I am!"

Q: What brought you to Oakhill?

A: "Well honestly, I have a friend who was employed here and I was missing the classroom. In my heart something was calling me to teaching and she told me about a position that was open. And she had such wonderful things to say about the school. And I thought 'you know, I'm ready for something different' that's not public education and so here I am!"

Q: How have your experiences shaped the way you teach?

A: "Well my experiences have taught me that students absolutely need to know the relevance of what they're learning, like the purpose. They need to be able to connect what they're doing in the classroom to their own lives. So, I think that's a big takeaway for me."

Q: What calls you to the classroom?

A: "I think it's the relationships I was missing when I was off for that year. I was really missing the relationships with the kids and with my colleagues and the families and those connections. So I think that's the biggest thing that I was missing whenever I was away."

Q: What do you want students to take away from the classroom?

A: "I want them to know how much I care you know? And I want them to feel like that number one, that I care about their well being. Who they are as a person, their social emotional well being, and then I want them to feel like they're ready for what's to follow."

Q: What's the main thing that makes you a teacher?

A: "Once again I think that's my heart. You know I've always believed that social and emotional is the most important thing and with the work that I do with students and so I think my heart, how much I care, is the biggest thing that makes me, me, in the classroom. I tend to care a lot."

Q: What has been your favorite thing about Oakhill so far?

A: "Just since I've been here, other than the relationships because I know that's number one, but I think what I am picking up on is that there's a lot of traditions. It's not just the school community that participates, like for example the Halloween parade. I totally was in awe of how the community came together and to celebrate to make that day so special for the kids. So, I think that's my favorite so far, but I'm sure there'll be more to come!"

Q: What is your favorite season at Oakhill?

A: "I really think it's the the holidays. I mean, just how everyone comes together. Like for example Halloween, and how we're all prepping for Christmas which is all something that I'm not used to coming from public. So, I just enjoying all of the seasons."

Q: What's your best teaching advice?

A: "The best advice I think I have is never say never because you know teaching is hard, it takes someone with a big heart. It takes a lot of energy and a lot of time and so I think teachers are called to this profession. It's definitely something you're born to do, if you do it. Just don't say never when you like I did when I thought I was done and I was gonna retire early. Just never say never"