Mrs. Ashton Guard is a new 5^th grade teacher, but not new to the career field. Mrs.Guard has been teaching for 10 years prior to joining the ACS District. Her first teaching experience was at East Elementary in Jackson, TN, seeing that’s where she’s from. When asked why she chose this occupation, she credited her mother for inspiring her. Her love for kids also fueled her decision to teach. “I truly love kids. The teaching is fun too, but I really enjoy being part of someone’s life in more than academic ways. I feel that my calling in life is to love and encourage others. Being a teacher allows me to fulfill that calling everyday.”

Just like any other career, teaching has it’s ups and downs. Mrs.Guard feels that the best part about teaching is being involved in someone’s life you never would have met otherwise. The down part is not having enough hours in the day, she says. When asked about teaching amid the COVID-19 and how it has affected her, Mrs. Guard replied “ It has challenged me to be creative in the ways I teach and get to know my students. I will be thankful once the pandemic is over, but I am trying to find the positives in it.” Mrs.Guard’s approach to classroom management is relationships with her students. She believes if the class sees you invest in them personally, they will, in return, invest in your lessons and instructions. For any aspiring teachers, Mrs Guard would like to leave you with this piece of advice, “Make sure your in it for the kids. It is easy to get overwhelmed with all the other expectations. However a strong passion for loving and teaching students must be your priority