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Posted on: 6/26/24
Establishing a good classroom environment is very important to Keecha Finley. Every morning, Finley plays a video of affirmations for her kindergarten students to recite.
“It’s their classroom just as much as it is mine,” said Finley, a teacher assistant at University Meadows Elementary School and the 2023-24 Teacher Assistant of the Year for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. “I’m all about making sure the kids are comfortable and happy, and that they feel safe and secure and can trust us.”
Growing up, Finley bounced between being a nurse or going into education. As the second oldest granddaughter, she did a lot of babysitting and considered herself a caretaker.
While at Harding University High School, she worked as a candy striper and participated in the school’s Future Teachers of America, volunteering her time at Newell Elementary. Being with the students was what brought Finley the most joy.
“I love to see them grow and learn,” she said. “I love those ah-ha moments.”
Finley is in her 12th year at University Meadows and from year one to now, her style and methods of teaching have evolved to meet the needs of her students. But one thing that has remained consistent is her desire to see her students flourish.
“She was always hands-on, wanting to learn and loved the students like they were her own,” said Charmaine Moffatt, a pre-K teacher who worked with Finley for eight years. “She provides a safe space for them.”
About a year after the pandemic, and while continuing to teach, Finley decided to go back to school to pursue her bachelor’s degree. When Finley began her student teaching, she moved from pre-K into a kindergarten classroom where she was able to teach 15 students of her own. The class had had several substitutes before her, so it was important for Finley to establish a routine and set expectations early on.
After a couple of months, their test scores increased, behaviors improved and students settled into their new routine.
“You have to get to know your kids and learn what makes them happy or what triggers them,” said Finley. “Anything so that you get to know them and they can trust you, come to you and feel comfortable to grow.
“Student teaching has been the biggest eye-opener for me,” she added. “My biggest fear is that I’m not doing enough for them, or I’m not giving them enough opportunities to grow or learn. But then I see their data, and I see that they’re catching on and that they’re happy to be here. It makes me feel good and that I’m in the right spot and I’m doing right by my kids.”
In the 2024-25 school year, Finley will return to University Meadows in a new role — a kindergarten teacher. She recently graduated from the University of Phoenix with a degree in early childhood education.
“We’ve been talking about this for years, and now she has this opportunity,” said Moffatt. “(The pre-K team) is so excited for her and excited to see her continue to do great things and soar. It’s what she’s meant to do because she loves working with children, and we want to continue to see her thrive.”
