Erin Gibson comes from Marshfield, a city in central Wisconsin, but came to Valparaiso in 1995 to attend Valparaiso University (VU) where she graduated with a bachelor’s in social work.
Gibson initially thought she’d go into international services focusing on foreign languages, and VU offered an esteemed program. She also appreciated that her university wouldn’t be too far from home and that it was Christian.
“They had the things I was looking for in a college. I had never heard of VU until my mom’s friend was like, ‘Hey, have you ever thought about this college?’ We made a trip down, and I fell in love with the campus. It’s history after that,” she said.
Following graduation, Gibson spent time all over the country. She’s lived in Baltimore, Maryland; Iowa City, Iowa; and Cincinnati, Ohio, all while staying home with her four kids for most of that time. She made a return to Valparaiso in 2013. For the past eight years, she’s been working as a kindergarten teacher at Northview Elementary School.
At work, Gibson is dedicated to enriching the social and emotional development of the children she teaches. She admires their willingness to learn as they take the first steps of their educational journeys.
“What I love most about my job is the opportunity to think about how I can make my lessons developmentally appropriate by using play to teach the things needed to be learned in kindergarten,” she said. “I can utilize much of my social work background within the classroom and partner with parents trying to figure out different things about their kids.”
The opportunity to provide the support and guidance necessary for enhancing the lives of younger students is a big motivator for Gibson. She recognizes that each and every child comes in with their own stories and experiences. On top of that, she understands it’s her job to show her students how their stories can help them succeed later on in life.
Gibson’s own history contributes to her ability to shine in her role. When her youngest two children, twins, went to kindergarten, she made the decision to become an early childhood educator. No matter what a day in the classroom brings, whether lessons on holidays or families, she’s prepared for making an impact in a variety ways.
“All the children come with different backgrounds, and I believe that each one is capable. I’ve wanted to make a difference in kids’ lives because helping them to feel as if they have the ability to learn is a good feeling,” she said. “Watching them grow as independent individuals is incredible to me.”
Gibson enjoys working hard to inspire her students to reach their full potential. Her experience has shown her that doing so sometimes involves flexibility to go along with the ever evolving field of education, which has led to some of her favorite memories in the classroom.
“I’ve learned to be a bit more flexible and recognize that things don’t always go according to plan, and that’s okay. Sometimes, the best lessons I’ve had have come out of things that were not planned,” she said. “Students have changed over time, and so we, as educators, need to change our perspectives in meaningful ways so that we make changes for the positive.”
Gibson avidly enjoys watching Purdue University basketball’s progress through the season. She loves to travel whenever away from work, and likes to go to different places with her family. She is also a fan of biking and anything having to do with crafting or creating.
It’s been helpful for Gibson to realize that there’s importance in balancing work and family, but her balance t might remain a work in progress.
“There’s always going to be a list that needs to be done, and recognizing the importance of balancing your work and your family is a challenge,” she said. “I remind myself that my family is just as important as those kids in the classroom, if not more so, but I need to make sure that I’m balancing both while I take care of my own mental health. I’m not going to say it’s easy, but I’m constantly trying.”
Gibson’s family is spread out all across the country. Her husband has two kids, one in San Diego, California, and the other in Phoenix, Arizona. Her daughter is studying at Indiana University, while another daughter studies at Ball State University. Her twins are sophomores in high school locally, which, in addition to her job, has allowed her to keep tabs on all that Valpo has to offer.
“What I love about Valpo is that it’s a great place to raise a family, and it’s a sweet little community. I love all the things downtown, and I think it has opportunities, having Chicago not too far away. It’s got a nice feel; it’s a great little place to be,” she said.