A paraprofessional at Danielsville Elementary School, Crumley is working towards her teaching degree.
“I’ll do my student teaching here next January,” she said.
A single mother of three sons ages 20, 16 and 15, the Ila resident works at the school full-time and takes online courses for her degree. Her husband of 22 years passed away last year after a long illness.
She started out substitute teaching at Ila Elementary while her boys were enrolled in school there. Eventually she became a parapro at Danielsville.
“The most rewarding part of my job is helping students learn to read,” she said. “It makes me so proud when I work with a student and help them with their reading skills and they start to enjoy reading. It makes me happy to see them want to choose a book and finish it.”
This year, she is in charge of the opportunity room where children come to work on behavioral issues. Previously, she worked with special education students in fifth grade.
She plans to teach fourth and fifth grade in the coming years, and eventually to work with special education children again.
“I just love being around children,” she said. “When they start learning, their eyes start shining.”
Crumley says one of the times she was proudest of a group of students was during a “Battle of the Books” competition.
She was working with a teacher in a self-contained classroom at the time, helping the students not only with reading skills but with choosing books they would enjoy reading.
While choosing books for the competition, Crumley recalled how excited the children became.
“During the competition that year most all of our students competed in the competition,” she said. “The winning team consisted of many of our students…They were so proud to be able to compete with other students and help bring their team to victory.”
Assistant principal Angela Bush said Crumley exemplifies the philosophy that learning has no limits and that a solid work ethic will take you far, adding that she gives her best to students every day, all while working toward her own teaching degree.
“She is willing to do anything that will help a student find success,” Bush said. “Ms. Crumley has a positive outlook that amazes others. She has worked three jobs while caring for her children and her terminally ill husband. She’s excelled at DES despite her challenges.”
Principal Angie Waggoner refers to Crumley as “a ray of sunshine” at DES.
“She is truly an inspiration,” she said. “We are very blessed to have her at DES and look forward to her becoming a certified teacher.”
