Shelly Crist is pictured with one of her students, Charlotte Rakiecki, last year. Crist teaches at Bemus Point Elementary School. Submitted photo

BEMUS POINT — Bemus Point Elementary teacher Shelly Crist can trace wanting to be a teacher back to her childhood.

“My parents were both teachers,” Crist said. “My dad was an English teacher at Jamestown High School. I was the fourth child and my mom went back to teaching third grade when I was in third grade.”

Crist said she used to beg her mother to help grade papers and put stickers on papers, so teaching was something she “always wanted to do.”

She began teaching in 1994. Her first year was spent at Fluvanna Elementary, which Crist said was actually the last year that school was open. Crist attended both Fluvanna and Bemus Point elementary as a child, so she has also taught at both schools she grew up in. She began by teaching second grade for eight years. Following that, she got her reading certification and taught intervention in reading and math.

Altogether, Crist has taught kindergarten through sixth grades throughout her time as a teacher. She returned to the classroom for 10 years following her time teaching intervention and has switched back and forth between first and second grades since.

Currently, she teaches first grade.

Crist said her favorite part of teaching is getting to know her kids.

“I learn about them and help them find themselves as learners,” she said. “I learn what works best for them and what tools we can use to help them grow.”

She added that it is also fun to see the multiple generations come through her classroom. Currently, she has a kid in her class whose mother she taught when they were in second grade.

“When kids come back and see you, it is an amazing feeling,” Crist said. “My first class is in their 30s now and have their own kids. I’m Facebook friends with many of them and it’s a full circle moment for me to see them grow and experience their rewards with them.”

Crist said she also loves being able to reach those kids who might not be obvious from the start or who might struggle, and instilling in her kids the love of reading and writing.

“I appreciate what I’ve been able to do in my career,” Crist said. “I love trying different things and I have amazing colleagues. I have made best friends who are my family. Even when people retire we stay in touch.”

Crist said she loves the career that she chose and is “thrilled to be able to do it.”

For Crist, teaching is important because of the way the world has changed over time and because kids have so much going on.

“So much is going on for kids now compared to 10 or 20 years ago in terms of social media and their tablets and technology,” Crist said. “We teach kids soft skills and socialization and problem solving. In school you learn to adapt and set goals. Teachers assist parents in creating good citizens.”

Additionally, Crist said teachers teach kids to be responsible, respectful and safe, and to help them become anything they can dream of.

Before teaching, Crist worked at a variety of different restaurants. Growing up in Greenhurst she worked at Ramsay’s Restaurant, which no longer exists, and the Chatterbox with her brother. Throughout high school and college she worked at restaurants before substituting for one year and then getting her teaching job.

For the rest of this year, Crist’s goal is to learn more about her new reading series.

“There’s so much more technology in the curriculum and it’s ever changing,” Crist said. “It’s a constant challenge and I want to learn and improve the series with the kids.”

Crist said every year she gets to know and love the “little people” she is “privileged” to be with every day. She added that everything she does and says affects them and she wants to help them be their best. Every year she reads a book to the kids which discusses getting a new pack of seeds every year and helping them grow.

“That is a teacher’s life in a nutshell,” Crist said. “Kids learn at different rates and you have to give each one what they need. That’s what we’re there for. Kids can and will grow, and we are a big piece of the puzzle.”

Crist has always felt support from the parents and community and said as a teacher you have to love what you do.

“Teachers get a bad rap in the media,” Crist said. “It’s hard and you need to love what you do every day. Your blood, sweat and tears go into this job and you need to love what you do.”