Teacher Appreciation Week: Gina Schmidt Inspired by Student Success

BETHALTO - Gina Schmidt has found her way home.

Schmidt is a special education teacher for kindergarten and first grade students at Bethalto East Primary School in the Bethalto Community Unit School District #8. This Teacher Appreciation Week, she’s reflecting on the journey that brought her back to Bethalto, where she grew up, and led to her dream job.

“My favorite part of teaching is the students,” she shared. “I love seeing the smiles on their faces, hearing the laughter in the classroom, and the eagerness to learn. I have my students for two years and I love to see how much growth they make and being able to celebrate their successes with them.”

Schmidt decided she would become a teacher when she was in high school. She was helping with Vacation Bible School and loved the kids’ “joy, enthusiasm, and willingness to learn.” Education was the natural step for her to take.

Schmidt grew up in Bethalto but moved away to find a teaching job. She taught kindergarten for seven years and pre-k for two years in Tennessee, Georgia and Missouri. This is her third year teaching special education, and she is “very happy” to be back in her hometown.

Special education has been especially fulfilling. She shared that she loves watching students grow both personally and academically. Her students “push out” into the general education classroom for some of their core subjects, and she is thankful that her kids are always welcomed by the gen ed teachers and students

Because Schmidt is so passionate, it can be difficult for her to “turn off [her] brain” at the end of the day. She is constantly thinking about what her students need and how she can improve her instruction to support them. This is a sign of Schmidt’s commitment to the kids. She works hard to make sure they have what they need to be successful.

Outside of school, Schmidt enjoys spending time with her family, including her husband and 1-year-old daughter and their dog. She roots for the St. Louis Cardinals and the UNC Tar Heels, and she jumps on every chance she gets to go to a country music concert.

Though it took some time for Schmidt to find her dream job in her hometown, she wouldn’t have it any other way, and she is extremely happy with how things have worked out. She works hard to support her students, and she will continue to celebrate them and act as their biggest supporters.

“I love working with students because I love seeing the growth they make,” she added. “I love the ‘ah ha’ moments when students finally understand a concept they have been working on. I love being able to celebrate those successes with the students.”

Thank you to Gina Schmidt for your work as a teacher!

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