Carrie Biggs always knew that she wanted to be a teacher. Born in Seoul, Biggs was adopted and raised in Portage where she played school with her friends, which is how she came to find her life’s calling. Today, Biggs has been a title one teacher at Aylesworth Elementary School for the past 28 years.
“When I was younger, I used to play school with my neighborhood friends,” said Biggs. “We always wanted to be the teacher. Then there was just something in me that liked working with kids. I was very fortunate to work at the YMCA’s Y-care program when I was attending Indiana University Northwest. It gave me a really good experience helping kids out and teaching them in a different capacity.”
Biggs has always looked up to teachers and admired what they did, specifically her former teacher Renee Turpa. Being a teacher’s assistant was the first moment where she realized her true love for the profession.
“I wanted to be a teacher because she was a great teacher,” said Biggs. “She taught special education and I was a teacher's assistant for her. My parents were also always a good influence. There was just something in me, I just wanted to work with kids, and also because of the influence from other people.”
Now a title one teacher, Biggs teaches phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and other comprehension skills. She teaches students from first grade through the fifth grade, with her entire teaching career having been at Aylesworth. She is motivated by the desire and loyalty to help the school out in whatever capacity she can. However, she also loves getting to connect with the students.
“I love to watch the kids grow,” said Biggs. “I love to see their individuality. As a reading teacher, I am now fortunate to see them in first grade work all the way up to fifth grade. Academically and emotionally as a person I love making these connections. I would run into a kid in the hallway, and I would be like ‘Oh my gosh you are a fifth grader now.’ I just love having those connections.”
If Biggs could go back in time to give her younger self some advice, she’d tell her to appreciate the special moments, as well as to reflect on some lessons learned.
“Appreciate those moments and those wins when they come by,” said Biggs. “Appreciate those small little things while alongside the growth you make as a professional. I would tell my younger self not to forget those moments.”
Thanks to her adoptive parents, Biggs and her siblings got everything they ever needed to be successful and follow their dreams.
“I do not know what to do without them,” said Biggs. “They were there for me while being a hard-working, middle-class family. My dad and mom did everything they could to make sure my siblings and I got everything that we needed. They made countless sacrifices for us. I just have to thank them for all the opportunities that they have given me.”
Outside of teaching, Biggs enjoys running and has ran in six marathons. In 2004, Biggs ran the Chicago Marathon for the first time. She also enjoys watching all different kinds of sports.