Back to School: Getting to Know 3rd Grade Teacher Courtney Tufts

Today’s the big day for K-6 students in Wrentham. With the start of elementary school, we take a look at one more teacher from third grade. In her first year as a full time teacher, Courtney Tufts comes to Wrentham after a stint as a substitute in the Needham Public Schools. To learn more about all the new teachers coming to Wrentham,

Patch: How has your summer been?

Tufts: Good, been here. (laughs) 

What is your teaching background?

I’ve been teacher for three years. I worked in Needham before. I worked in fourth and fifth grade and last year I actually had two classrooms. I was subbing in two different rooms so I had one classroom in the first half and another in the second half.

Last year I started off at the beginning of the year so I’ve done the first days of school and all of the setup and all of the community building but years before that too I had some really great mentors that I worked with and I’ve been in school and seen the first days.

What was it about the Wrentham Public School at appealed to you?

One thing I really liked about the town was the lower and upper elementary split. I think it’s a nice model and I’ve always head great things about it. I have some friends and family in the area and they always said it was a great place to be.

What do you think the difference between a third grade class and a fourth or fifth grade class are going to be?

I think third grade is a really important year for students to kind of learn how to be a little more independent. That is going to be a big part of my job, getting them from second graders to getting them ready fourth grade.

What is one of your favorite things about teaching?

My favorite thing is when I am working with a student who is struggling and that lightbulb goes on and things click for them. 

When did you know you wanted to be a teacher?

In preschool! I use to teach my stuff animals but then more realistically in sixth grade my classroom teacher gave me an opportunity to tutor another student in my class and I think that was where it became a life path for me that that’s what I was going to do. From there I did different internships in high school and I went on to college and I started with my degree in elementary undergrad so that was the moment that set the rest of the path.