“It's my dream job,” Lisa Norman said.
Funnily enough, becoming a teacher wasn’t always on Norman's radar. Norman is currently a Language Arts teacher at Fegely Middle School in Portage - but this wasn’t always the career she had envisioned for herself.
“I had it all figured out. I was going to be an attorney; I was ready” said Norman.
However, she’d learn of a new path right before she graduated from high school.
Despite having her undergraduate and law schools picked out, Norman changed course after spending a summer at Indiana State University. In high school, Norman was invited to spend time down in Terre Haute to attend a summer honors program provided by the university.
The school did not have a pre-law course to take that summer. With her top choice not being an option, she went on to take a special education course – something she said also interested her.
“I fell in love.” Norman said.
Norman loved learning about special education and gaining hands-on experience via rotations in the community.
“I got to work with babies with Down syndrome, and I told my mom, ‘That's what I want to do.’” Norman said.
Norman then went on to get her Bachelor of Science in elementary education and a master’s in special education. Norman began her career in 1999 teaching students with special needs. Then, in 2004, Norman heard through a friend about an open position at Fegely Middle School and has been teaching there ever since.
Not only does Norman work as a teacher at the school, she is also an instructional coach and a co-founder of the Spark Kindness Club.
“They do a lot of great things. Our project right now is a food drive. I love when our kids are able to see a need in our community and take action to meet that need.” Norman said. “This is only our second year but that is so far my favorite thing that we are doing”
Time and impact are not always a direct correlation – a concept Norman is familiar with. Norman shares the connection she develops with students is what makes her most proud.
“A kid who maybe wasn't in your class, but you've worked with in someone else's class, comes up to you and gives you a hug or comes up to you and says, ‘Can you help me with this?’ It makes me proud when kids know we're here to support them” said Norman.
Norman also shares how students reach out to her to talk one-on-one for guidance or advice.
“That makes me proud because that means those kids trust me.” Norman said.
With her time spent working as an educator and instructional coach, co-founding the Spark Kindness Club, and developing connections with students at Fegely, it's not hard to see why Norman is a great asset to the Portage community.