Lyndsay Piña: 'Their curiosity is infectious'

 

Lyndsay Piña

TK/Kindergarten Teacher

Foothill Elementary School

 

Lyndsay Piña is a transitional kindergarten and kindergarten teacher at Foothill Elementary School in Monterey.

 

She says what inspires her most about her job is the impact she can have on helping children learn more about who they are as young learners.

 

 

“There’s something about making that connection and getting to know them better and them being able to articulate something about themselves is a joy,” Lyndsay said.

 

Lyndsay says helping them learn to read is a huge achievement.

 

“I’ve enjoyed seeing children learn how to read is amazing and to see them come in not knowing any letters and then coming out being able to read and being excited and feeling strength in themselves,” Lyndsay said.

 

Lyndsay is originally from Ripon, California and earned her degree and teaching credential from Azusa Pacific University in 2004. Her husband is from the Monterey Peninsula.

 

“One fun thing is that my husband went to Foothill here and his uncles went to Foothill. He remembers being a kindergartener in this very classroom,” Lyndsay said.

 

Lyndsay knows the past couple of years have been very difficult for families who had to deal with distance learning and major changes because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

“I hope I can be a steady, safe place for the families that I come in contact with, with the kids that I come in contact with, that they know that when they’re with me or they’re in my presence, I can be there for them,” Lyndsay said.

 

Lyndsay says there’s nowhere else she’d rather be, than teaching on the Monterey Peninsula.

 

“Being part of the community of the Peninsula as a whole and being in this role as a public school teacher, it's something that I haven’t been able to get anywhere else,” Lyndsay said.