Meet Our Team Monday: Mrs. Nina Litchfield
We are pleased to welcome Mrs. Nina Litchfield, art teacher at Aurora Elementary School, to the first Meet Our Team Monday spotlight of 2017!
A graduate of South Dearborn High School, Mrs. Litchfield also attended Aurora Elementary School and Aurora Middle School. She received her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Northern Kentucky University and went on to receive her master’s degree in curriculum, instruction, and assessment from Walden University.
Before transferring to AES to take on the position of K-6 art teacher, Mrs. Litchfield taught 3rd through 6th grade at Moores Hill Elementary School. We asked Mrs. Litchfield why she chose to become a teacher and she replied, “I have always been the type of person who enjoyed helping others. I can’t give everyone everything they want, but I will definitely help in any way that I can. It is a crazy, busy world we live in, and if I can help take the stress off of someone else, that’s exactly what I will do. As I grew older, I started to realize how much I loved working with children.” She says seeing a child happy and succeeding in life is the most joyful thing she has ever witnessed. “Most children want to do well, they just need a little help and encouragement along the way. I like to think that is where I come in. I also enjoy planning and organizing events and activities. When you put all those things together, it was an easy choice to become a teacher.”
When we asked Mrs. Litchfield if there was a favorite teacher or individual who made an impact on her, and what made that person stand out from the rest, she answered, “I was not only lucky enough to have some amazing teachers throughout my education, but I am also lucky enough to call some of them my coworkers today. Mrs. Fran, Mrs. Macke, Mrs. Platt, Mr. Gardner, and Mr. Simms are just a few of my favorite teachers. Even though they all taught different grade levels and subjects, they all had something in common - they all truly cared about their students and it showed. Each one them understood their students and their needs. It didn’t feel like they were just doing a job, it felt like teaching was their true passion. Having these teachers as role models from a young age, made it easy for me to decide on teaching. I was actually voted 'most likely to teach for South Dearborn” in my high school yearbook.'"
Mrs. Litchfield says that the number one thing she loves most at AES is the children. “I spend most of my day laughing and smiling at the stories I’m told, the conversations I overhear, or the actions I see in the hallway. I love the variety of personalities I see in every class I teach. I also love the staff at SDCSC. No matter what building, grade level, or subject they teach, they all have a passion for what they do. We are making a difference in someone’s life every day at SDCSC.”
Every teacher goes into a new school year with hopes and goals for herself and her students. Mrs. Litchfield says her hopes are the same every year. “I hope that all my students know that I work very hard to understand them and that I will never give up on them. I hope they leave my room with a little more happiness and love in their hearts. I hope they smile everyday. I hope to spend my day enlightening, motivating, and inspiring my students to be the absolute best person they can be.”
Outside of school, Mrs. Litchfield enjoys spending time with her friends and family. “I live a very busy but random lifestyle. My family and I love last minute dinner dates, unplanned trips for the day, or spontaneous get-togethers with some of our favorite people. I spend a lot of my time entertaining my 12 year-old-son Logan, and his friends. I love loading my minivan up with kids and heading out to make memories with them. I also love to travel and spend time on the water. It doesn’t matter if it is a beach, lake, or pool, my happy place is in the water with the sun shining.”
Finally, we asked Mrs. Litchfield what advice she would like to give to the students of SDCSC. She responded, “My advice for my students is to never judge someone. You never know what is happening in someone else's life, or what they are going through. It is not our job to judge, but to encourage instead. Be a good friend, be a good listener, and always be there for someone who is in need. Everyone deserves to be loved and cared about. Spend your time spreading love and smiles everywhere you go.”
Thank you for sharing a little about yourself with us today, Mrs. Litchfield!