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Can you tell us about yourself? 

Hi, my name is Erica Fisher and I work at Indiantown Middle School in Indiantown, Florida. I am a reading teacher and I teach sixth, seventh and eighth grade. In Indiantown, Florida. 

Why did you start a career in education?

I've been here for two years, but I've been teaching since 1996. So for a super long time, I was teaching at the high school level up until last year, mostly ninth grade reading and English classes. I started my education because I like teaching and I like kids. I used to work at a daycare center and then I went to college to be a teacher.

If you could have any other job what would it be and why?

If I can have any other job, I would like to be an editor, books, and magazines. And I enjoy editing work and writing. 

How are kids different now than 30 years ago?

I think for questions four and five, how are kids different now than 30 years ago? And how is teaching different? Now those two answers are the same because that answer is technology. Kids are very different now because they love technology. They have phones and tablets and computers and all kinds of stuff. And back 30 years ago, you were lucky if you even had a computer in a classroom and it was a monstrosity and it was super slow and you couldn't do anything on it. Kids are different now because they're in touch. They're in touch with each other all the time. They can text and call and video chat and there's always a connection. They're never turned off.

What would you tell someone who wants to become a teacher?

If somebody asked me now, if they should become a teacher, I would say they have to be very optimistic. It's very difficult right now with the pandemic we teach in person and online. And that is extremely difficult. There are obstacles for the kids.There are obstacles for teachers. The learning is challenging. It's just a very different time to be a teacher.

What would you change to help kids learn better?

And one thing that can help kids learn better is to bring them back to school. I know that's a challenge, but they seem to learn a lot better when they're in person. Being home for some kids is definitely not the way to be. They need to be in school with their friends, with their teachers. They need resources that they can't get at home. I hope the pandemic goes away and they can come back.