Lehman proves the best teachers love to learn

BRAVO—Las Posas Elementary School fifth-grade teacher Lindsey Lehman was recognized as the Educator of the Month during a presentation ceremony at the Camarillo school Nov. 6. WENDY PIERRO/Acorn Newspapers Las Posas Elementary School fifth-grade teacher Lindsey Lehman still keeps in touch with her first-grade teacher.

Lehman, 33, said the warm and caring Mrs. Pietzmeier inspired her to become an educator and that she wants to make her students feel as special and important as Mrs. Pietzmeier made her feel.

“I like to see them having fun when they’re learning,” Lehman said of her students.

That attitude and her willingness to do whatever she can for her students led the Camarillo Chamber of Commerce to honor Lehman as November’s Educator of the Month.

Principal James Martinez, who nominated her, said Lehman embraces new ideas and tries to fill the needs of the students.

“She’s just a very effective teacher and a very nice person,” he said.

Lehman was presented with a plaque during a school assembly on Nov. 6.

She began her teaching career in 1999 at an elementary school in Palmdale. Mrs. Pietzmeier was the first person Lehman called when she was hired.

Lehman came to Camarillo’s Las Posas Elementary six years ago and taught first grade for three years and kindergarten for the past two.

Last summer, when Martinez realized he had more kindergarten teachers than classes and was short a fifth-grade teacher, he asked Lehman to take on the job in the fall.

Lehman didn’t hesitate to say “yes,” although it meant quickly learning a new curriculum and adopting a different teaching approach.

She said she thought it would be fun to have students she’d taught in first grade as fifth-graders.

“I like seeing the light bulb go on in kids’ eyes, whether they’re younger or older,” she said.

Lehman and another teacher took over organizing a student robotics team this fall after the previous teachers left the school. Martinez said Lehman and her partner teacher had to learn from scratch and on their own time how to build and program a robot so they could teach the children.

Lehman also volunteered to be the secretary for the school’s parent-teacher council.

She said she wants to pass on to her students a lifelong love for learning and setting goals. She said she tries to set the example.

Lehman plans to return to school to obtain a master’s degree in education. She knows she’ll make mistakes in her first year teaching fifth grade and will use those occasions to teach perseverance to her students.

“I’m not perfect; we’re learning together,” she said.

Lehman and her husband, Glenn, have a 2½-year-old daughter and are expecting their second child in April.