When asking for nominations from staff members for Spotlight Staff Members this month, Mrs. Liveoak was quick to respond with a nomination for Licking’s lead teacher in the Early Wildcat Center, Mrs. Teresa Clonts. “It is an honor to nominate the best teacher that I know,” wrote Mrs. Liveoak. “She is the kindest and most compassionate person I know! She would do anything to help a person out…even if it was a stranger! The students and I look up to her,” added Mrs. Liveoak. School district staff agrees, and for these reasons, Mrs. Clonts was chosen to represent us this month.
Mrs. Clonts graduated from high school in Sheridan, Arkansas, in 1988 where she was a proud yellow jacket, the district’s mascot. After high school, Mrs. Clonts worked as a telemarketer, a waitress, a teacher’s aide, and a McDonald’s crew chief. Mrs. Clonts knew she was on her way to a career in teaching, though, ever since receiving inspiration from Mrs. Gault, her fifth grade teacher. “Mrs. Gault changed my life,” said Mrs. Clonts. “I wanted to become a teacher to help students and change their lives like Mrs. Gault positively impacted mine. She told me I could do anything I put my mind to, and she helped me overcome some bullying situations.”
Mrs. Clonts received a call from Mrs. Sandy Aiken with an invitation to come teach preschool after Mrs. Rensch’s retirement after she received her bachelor’s degree from Southwest Baptist University. It didn’t take long, and Mrs. Clonts found her groove as the preschool lead teacher. “I wanted to bring culture and a sense of community into the preschool, and parents loved it,” said Mrs. Clonts. Adding a new way of teaching through exploration, Mrs. Clonts brought new meaning to the word learning. After three years of service in the preschool, Mrs. Clonts went on to earn her master’s degree in curriculum and instruction which helped further guide her instructional approach. In 2018, Mrs. Clonts earned her specialist degree in education administration, which gave her perspective on management of the Wildcat Early Learning Center.
Twenty-seven years after the start of career in education, Mrs. Clonts can reflect on many ups and downs – but “mostly ups”. Reaching a student when he or she seems unreachable is one of Mrs. Clonts’ favorite parts of teaching. To help accomplish this goal, Mrs. Clonts said she changed her way of teaching over time to become a person who takes advantage of windows of opportunity for children, rather than consistently guiding their understanding. “It’s important to have lesson plans, but sometimes it’s necessary to put them aside when a window of opportunity opens. Children reach their goals through these windows – or times when they are asking questions about something new,” said Mrs. Clonts.
Since being the lead teacher at the preschool, Mrs. Clonts has added numerous centers and units to make learning more meaningful. Cultures, rocket ships, jungle animals, dinosaurs, ocean life, pirates, outer space, and scarecrow building are just a few of the preschoolers’ favorites. Mrs. Clonts is sure to cover children’s autonomy every year so that preschoolers know how to take care of themselves, use their words to clearly communicate, and get help when necessary.
Mrs. Clonts is known as a very positive person who shares her deep faith. Mr. James and Mrs. Clonts are ministers at The Living Word Outreach, and they have been married 32 years. Mr. and Mrs. Clonts are parents to Angel, who works at a nursing home and loves helping people; “Big” Mike who works at Dollar General in Licking, is married to Mia, who together have daughter, Gracelynn; and Rebekah, a CNA, and mother to Dawson and Matthew. Mrs. Clonts’ extended family, including her twin sister, Lisa, sister, Tammy, and sister, Stephanie, still resides in Arkansas. Mrs. Clonts enjoys walking, hiking, dancing, and having fun.
Licking R-VIII School District is thankful for Mrs. Clonts’ hard work, and we are proud to recognize her as Spotlight Staff Member for the Month of August!