This week The Columbian-Progress spotlights Columbia Primary School kindergarten teacher Kaylee Beal.
Q: When and where were you born?
A: I was born in Laurel on Feb. 18, 1990.
Q: Where did you attend school?
A: I started out and graduated from Oak Grove High School in 2008.
Q: Where do you work? Tell us about your job/company.
A: I work at Columbia Primary School teaching kindergarten. This is my third year teaching kindergarten. I previously spent six years teaching second grade. We have a lot of fun; we do carpet time, morning routines and centers.
Columbia Primary School kindergarten teacher Kaylee Beal has always loved being around children, which made teaching a natural career choice.
Q: What led you to your profession?
A: I started out in college wanting to be a nurse. However, I quickly realized that nursing was not my calling. I went to my adviser at school and said these are some of the things I want to do, and teaching was one of them. Growing up as a little girl, I always said I wanted to be a teacher and here I am.
Q: What do you enjoy most about your job?
A: I love being with the kids. I love that they come to school every day eager to learn for the most part. A lot of these kids don’t have anybody at home to love on them and encourage them. My No. 1 thing is love and encouraging them every second of the day. Going through Covid was really hard because we weren’t supposed to be hugging or touching the children, but how do you not hug a 5-year old? Some days that’s all they come to school for is to have someone love on them. When I leave each day, I ask myself, “Did I make them feel loved at some point during the day?”
Q: What is the most challenging aspect of your job?
A: Just the world that we are living in. It is such a different time than when we were in school. Being able to understand where each child is coming from and understand the child’s background. Just being understanding and accepting of who each child is separately and not as a whole class.
Q: What is the most important lesson you have learned in your career?
A: Not to allow the little things to get to you and stress you out. When you are dealing with little kids, it is really easy to nitpick and stress you out. Also, to understand the child and see from their point of view and where they are coming from is important. I’m very type A and organized, and kids are not, so being able to say you did it despite how they did it.
Q: When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A: I wanted to be an anesthesiologist, a hair stylist and teacher. Those were the top three, so I became a teacher. I couldn’t do the others.
Q: What was your first job?
A: Babysitting. I have always been around children.
Q: Who is the person who has been most influential in your life?
A: My mom, Jana Kay. She has always been very independent, and her work ethic is amazing. She always taught me to be independent, work hard and do your best.
Q: What is your spouse’s name?
A: Blake. We will be married 10 years on April 14.
Q: Do you have children?
A: We currently have two children. Olivia is 6 and Brooks just turned 4. Briggs is due to arrive March 18.
Q: If you could have anything for your last meal on earth, what would it be?
A: My former assistant, who works at the school, makes a Cajun crawfish and sausage pasta. It is heaven. I’ve always told her that is what I want for my last meal.
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
A: I always wanted to go out west. The thought of leaving the country, especially right now, does not entice me. I always wanted to see Yellowstone and the other national parks out west.
Q: What hobbies do you like to do in your spare time?
A: I do a lot of monogramming, I love to shop and spend time with my children. We really enjoy camping.
Q: What do you enjoy about Columbia and Marion County?
A: I love that everybody knows everybody and the small town feel. I love downtown Columbia at Christmas time. I love Main Street and building up the old part of town.
Q: If you could have lunch with anyone from your life or history, who would it be and why?
A: My grandad, who passed away when I was 12. I just want for him to be able to see my kids now and have one more last meal with him.
Q: If you didn’t have to worry about money, what would you do all day?
A: I would love to travel. I love the beach. I would love to get in the camper and just travel the country.
Q: What moment in your life has had the biggest impact on who you are today?
A: Having children. It changes the way you see and the way you think about the world, sometimes for the better.
Q: What is one thing you want to do that you’ve never tried?
A: Skydiving. If I didn’t have children, I would definitely try it.
Q: Using one word for each, what are your top three morals?
A: Faith, family and relationships with others.
Q: How would you like to be remembered?
A: As someone who enjoys life, has fun and as someone who enjoys what they do.
— By Susan Amundson
