Grade/school: First grade, Indian Creek Elementary School in Trafalgar.

Number of years teaching: 13.

Work e-mail: cstewart@nhj.k12.in.us.

Background/schooling: Bachelor’s degree in education, Indiana University, 1996; Indian Creek High School, 1992.

Why did you become a teacher? Teaching seems to run in my family. My grandfather, Claude Renner, was a well-respected teacher and basketball coach. My brother is the principal at Indian Creek High School, and I have many cousins who are teachers. I had so many great teachers during my years in the Indian Creek schools. My second-grade teacher, Mary Chandler, had a big influence on me. I was kind of a nervous child, and she did a lot to instill confidence in me. That is something I hope to do for my students, too.

What goals do you have for your students? I really want them to love learning and to see that school and learning can be fun. First grade is such an important year in school for kids. For some of them it is the first time that they are at school all day. I try to set a positive tone so that my students will want to be here each day.

What do you encourage parents to do at home to help their children strengthen particular skills? The one thing I always tell parents is that it is so important for them to read with their child at home each day. In kindergarten through third grade, the students are learning to read. From then on, they are reading to learn. If kids learn to love reading at an early age, it will help them tremendously as they go through school.

Name your favorite movie. “Hoosiers.”

Name your favorite musician or band. Brad Paisley.

What’s something your students might not know about you? As I student, I held the Indian Creek High School record for the 3,200-meter run in track for several years. I also coached middle school cross-country for 11 years until my son, Jacob, was born in 2007.