Jane Hennrick is a kindergarten teacher at Three Oaks Public School Academy. She knows that each student is different and brings something unique and special to the classroom. She loves being able to teach and make an impact on students. 
We asked Jane some questions about her journey to teaching and what she likes the most about it. Keep reading to hear all about it.
Why did you become a teacher and who inspired you?
I became a teacher because of the influence teachers had on me at a very young age. In kindergarten and first grade, I was very shy. I had low reading scores and always feared that my teacher would call on me to read and I would be made fun of. After having some wonderful teachers who helped me with reading, I became more confident in myself.
Because of this, I knew that I could also have that impact on other student’s learning and could have the ability to watch them grow. I was so grateful that someone took the time out to get to know me and my learning style, that I was inspired to be able to do this for others as well.
Who was a teacher who made a profound impact on your life?
My second-grade teacher, Mrs. Bass was a very influential teacher that enhanced my love for science. She had a classroom of animals that consisted of birds, rabbits, mice, hamsters, lizards, snakes, turtles and fish. She made learning fun with many different hands-on experiences.
What are you looking forward to the most this upcoming year?
For the upcoming year, I am looking forward to meeting and getting to know my new students!
In my class, I try to make learning fun for my kids. I try to give them many different experiences that will add to their knowledge. For example: to learn about life cycles, we researched and studied chickens, then we brought in an incubator and hatched chicken eggs. The kids were involved in the cleaning, feeding and handling of the baby chicks until they were old enough to join the other chickens on the farm.
How would students describe you?
My students would describe me as being fun and someone who deeply cares about them.
How would your colleagues describe you?
My fellow colleagues would describe me as happy, dedicated and organized.
Where did you go to college and what is your previous teaching experience?
I attended Ferris State after my high school graduation and was enrolled in their pre-teaching program. After completion of my associate’s degree, I married my high school sweetheart and transferred to Grand Valley State University where I graduated with a bachelor’s, then later received my Early Childhood Education (ZA) endorsement and Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education.
I previously taught preschool at Shelby Public Schools for four years and a multi-aged kindergarten-through-second-grade classroom at Lakeshore Public Academy for eight years before joining the staff at Three Oaks.
What do you do when you are not working at Three Oaks?
Outside of the classroom, I enjoy reading, camping and skiing with my family. Since my husband and I are empty-nesters, we also enjoy going on the sand dunes and trail riding.