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Lisa Almand

"The main focus will be teaching students how they can make a difference in their school and community and how service and leadership go hand in hand. "
Lisa Almand, speaking on the new P.R.I.D.E. group

Lisa Almand is the 5th grade reading teacher at Park Road Elementary.  She’s been teaching for the past six years, four of those in Chandler. She was awarded the Rookie award her first year of teaching at Tinker Elementary.  She recently started a leadership group at Park Road for students who are interested in serving their school. It is called  P.R.I.D.E. (Park Road’s Initiative to Develop Excellence.)

Q  What led you to teaching?
A  It’s what I always wanted to do. I just got married young and decided to stay home with my children until they were around 9-10 years old.

Q  Did you have any key mentors or people who influenced who you are, and/or your decision to become an educator?
A  I had two math teachers that really made an impact. My 8th grade math teacher was the kind of person that made you love math. She was excited about it and I remember thinking if I were to become a teacher, I’d want to be that excited about it. Also, my high school Algebra II and Trig. Teacher. She was just so full of knowledge and had a way of breaking things down so that we understood it. They were very different teachers, but both effective in their own way.

Q  What would you say most motivates you to teach?
A  The children. 100% it’s because I want to be an influence on them. I really do enjoy being around kids. I love the excitement they show when they’re telling a story and the look they give you when you say something that causes their light bulb to turn on.

Q  What are you most excited or passionate about? 
A  I am probably most excited about the things we teach beyond the classroom. I like to talk to kids about their future, what they can do for their community, how they be a leader and make a difference in someone’s life with their day to day to actions. I love to teach kids to be better reading, too, but I get excited when they start coming up with ways to be a better person or they start thinking of their future for the first time.

Q  What do you find most challenging about being a teacher?
A  Probably just the demanding nature of the job. There’s so much negativity around the profession these days with politics, changes in education, and testing. Sometimes it’s difficult just to focus on the joys of the job and really enjoy it. So far it’s worth it!

Q  What's the best thing to happen since you started teaching?
A  That’s a tough one. I would say once I took a position in Chandler. I feel very settled and at home. It’s much easier to get involved in the school and community when you work where you live.

Q  What might students and parents be surprised to know about you?
A  I’m a reading teacher that really only reads about a book a month. I would have a hard time making my AR goal! I read a lot at school and enjoy reading short articles and things, but I really only finish a book at home about once a month. I’m actually embarrassed! Also, my students are always shocked when I tell them I was in the military. That blows them away!

Lisa has two children, KateLinn (Junior) and Konnor (8th) and a granddaughter Sylee (1st) who lives with them. They all attend Chandler Public Schools and are involved in numerous activities. She and her family attend the First Baptist Church and spend a lot of time with extended family. The majority of her time is spent at track meets, football and basketball games, dance competitions and conventions and she enjoys being at home when possible. Lisa grew up in Chandler, then her family moved to Arkansas, Luther, Oklahoma and she graduated from Longmont, Colorado.  She returned to Oklahoma and received a bachelor degree from UCO in 1999. She earned her Masters from the University of Phoenix in 2011.

Lisa Almand

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