Christie Lehman – Langston Road Elementary

Christie Lehman is Langston Road Elementary School’s Teacher of the Year. Lehman was born and raised in Warner Robins. At the time her father was in the military and they were stationed at Robins Air Force Base. She attended public school up until sixth grade at Miller Elementary School and then transferred and graduated from the private school, Central Fellowship Christian Academy (CFCA) in Macon. After graduating high school, she went on to earn her bachelor’s degree at Toccoa Falls College and immediately began her teaching career. Lehman began her career at her school CFCA and then later in 2004 came to Houston County teaching at Northside Elementary School. Then later she came to Langston Road Elementary in 2015. Lehman has also earned her masters degree at Fort Valley State University and is currently working on her specialist at Piedmont College.

Why teaching?/What brought you into this field?

“I always wanted to teach. I can remember even in kindergarten lining up my stuff animals in a row on my bed and getting my chalkboard out to teach them my lessons. My kindergarten teacher would give me her left over lessons sometimes and I would use them at home to pass out to my ‘students’. Really I never even considered anything other than teaching.”

Any inspiration from past teachers?

“My mom and dad both encouraged me from when I was young to do what I wanted to do. My mom also taught pre-k and kindergarten for many years so she really encouraged me to go into that field. When I think of teachers, the two that stick out to me were elementary school teachers, not that I didn’t have good middle and high school teachers. But I remember my first grade teacher Ms. McCommon. She taught at Miller Elementary and I don’t remember what it was about her class, but I do remember loving coming to school, I enjoyed it. Years later I ended up teaching her grandson. The other was Ms. Burnette my sixth grade teacher. I don’t remember other subjects she taught but I loved her history class. She gave me my love for history.”

What do you like most about teaching?/What is the best part?

“The students, but more so the conversations you have with them. When you build relationships with them and they know it’s safe to talk and share, they’re very open. They are open with opinions and thoughts. A lot of times they teach me ways to think about things I would have not thought. Whether it’s something like a reaction to a book or what they’ve read into that book or what they write about it. It just amazes me. Their thinking skills are amazing.”

What is the most challenging part of teaching?

“Time. I think that goes for every teacher really. All teachers put in more than the eight hours, 40 hours a week. We don’t mind doing it, but it does get tiring sometimes and it does get into the personal life. If I had one thing to change, I don’t know more time would help, but it is the biggest challenge.”

Advice to students

“One thing I always try to portray to my students whether they were my younger students or now at fifth grade on to my own, never stop learning. There’s always something out there you don’t know and I don’t know. The second thing is, it is ok to make mistakes. Mistakes are part of learning how to live. I hope I provide an environment where they feel safe in making and sharing mistakes whether it’s behavioral mistakes or academic. Just know its part of life. All of us do it now matter how old we are. If they can learn that young and instill that, it will help for when they do get older.”

Advice to parents

“Ask your child every day what they learned at school. When they realize your asking them about what they learn then they realize you as a parent value education. They in turn value it. Also form a partnership with the teacher. You both want same thing for your child to succeed. Working together is a lot easier and beneficial for the student.”

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