BIG HORN — Kaelie Ratty, a preschool teacher at Big Horn, has always known she wanted to help others. Now in her fourth year as an educator and her third at Big Horn, Ratty prioritizes creating a classroom environment where kindness and safety are key.
“I aim to be a warm, loving figure so that the children feel comfortable and safe with me. It’s also important that their parents feel confident leaving them in my care,” Ratty explained.
She believes that, above all, children should learn to treat others kindly. “If the only thing the kids take away from my class is how to be kind and welcoming, I’ve done my job. Academics will follow, but social and emotional development is crucial. Learning to be away from mom and being kind to others is the foundation I want to build.”
Ratty’s day starts early at 5:30 a.m., before heading to the Big Horn campus around 7 a.m. to prepare her classroom with themed activities and games. The school day begins at 8 a.m. with children working on writing their names and engaging in circle time, which includes reading a book, reviewing letters and numbers, and working on phonics.
After circle time, students participate in a range of activities, including tabletop discussions, math exercises, sensory play, fine motor tasks like lacing and beading, and free exploration during “choice time.” Ratty teaches two classes daily, each with about 14 students.
To keep her lessons fresh and engaging, Ratty changes classroom themes every few weeks, tailoring them to the interests of her students. “If the kids are into dinosaurs, we’ll focus on that. If they like farm animals, we’ll explore that theme. I try to meet their needs and interests,” she said.
Every other week, Ratty and her fellow preschool teachers meet with preschool aide Alexis Von Gontard and coordinator Kendra Barney to share ideas for activities and discuss lesson plans. They also collaborate with kindergarten teachers to ensure their students are prepared for the next grade level.
Building strong connections with both students and their parents is a priority for Ratty. Most of her communication with parents happens through the Remind app, where she sends weekly newsletters and updates. She also makes time to talk to parents during drop-off and pick-up.
After her second class finishes at 3:45 p.m., Ratty heads home to spend time with her husband, Andrew. Her evening routine includes making dinner, exercising, and relaxing to recharge for the next day. Ratty emphasizes the importance of balancing work with personal time. “I work hard to finish everything during the day, even if it means staying a little later or coming in early, so I don’t have to bring work home. I want to be present with my family,” she said. “Having a four-day workweek here at Big Horn gives me the extra time I need to recover and enjoy time outside of work.”
Ratty has found her experience at Big Horn to be rewarding, particularly because of the supportive work environment. “It’s been wonderful. The teachers I work with are great. Often, it’s not about what you do but who you work with, and we collaborate well as a team,” she said. “We share ideas, and we have a lot of common ground. That’s been my favorite part of the job — the people I work with.”
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