Starting everyday by shaking her students' hands and offering a smile, Paula Conley believes the first step in building the educator-student relationship is initiating that connection. Teaching seventh grade English at Canfield Middle School, Paula Conley was named the 2005 Idaho Teacher of the Year. With years of teaching experience ranging from instructing first grader to working with adult learners in the university setting, Conley believes that teachers are the builders of bridges, helping students develop lifelong cognitive and emotional skills. Conley's path to become a teacher was not clear cut although education was always her passion. She worked as an aerobics instructor, chef, and commercial loan officer before finally finding her way into the classroom. By crossing her bridge to pursue her passions, Conley has been to help her students do the same.
Starting everyday by shaking her students' hands and offering a smile, Paula Conley believes the first step in building the educator-student relationship is initiating that connection. Teaching seventh grade English at Canfield Middle School, Paula Conley was named the 2005 Idaho Teacher of the Year. With years of teaching experience ranging from instructing first grader to working with adult learners in the university setting, Conley believes that teachers are the builders of bridges, helping students develop lifelong cognitive and emotional skills. Conley's path to become a teacher was not clear cut although education was always her passion. She worked as an aerobics instructor, chef, and commercial loan officer before finally finding her way into the classroom. By crossing her bridge to pursue her passions, Conley has been to help her students do the same.