Lisa Huffman

Boyle County
Edna L. Toliver Intermediate School

I originally planned to go to school to be a Spanish teacher. However, life took me in a different direction for a while. Then I adopted my son who has special needs, and helping him sparked my interest in special education. I still wanted to become a teacher, so I went back to school to pursue my Master’s degree in teaching, and I am now a special education teacher.

I make sure that my students understand how what they’re learning can apply to their lives. For example, if we’re learning about adding and subtracting decimals, my co-teacher and I use grocery ads to show students why it’s important to learn this skill, so they can budget their money for things like groceries. I also encourage students to support one another. When they cheer each other on, they feel like they are a part of the team. They feel valued, and heard, which is important for every student.