ABERDEEN, S.D. – As a teacher, having a support system is very important—and mother-daughter duo Linda White and Chelsea Ashmore get to be that support system for each other.
“My mom is my best friend,” Ashmore said. “I always have somebody in my corner.”
Ashmore works as a special education teacher at Simmons Middle School. White is a teacher in the TLC Program, located in the District Service Center—which is connected to Simmons.
Working together, White said, “I think one of the things I like the best is seeing how much of a better teacher she is than I am.”
Ashmore said her mom influenced her decision to become a teacher.
“Growing up, she and my dad both worked with people with disabilities. They taught me at a young age to be accepting, how special that is,” Ashmore said. “And then seeing my mom and how much of a difference she made with students, and how students would still contact her or write her. I want to get that, too.”
But she really knew she wanted to go into teaching after working as a special education aide for Kris McCafferty’s class at Simmons.
“I started getting to know the students,” Ashmore said. “Then I decided I’m going to go back to school. This is what I’m supposed to be doing.”
The best part of teaching, she said, is being able to help students.
“Just seeing them struggle with certain things—especially things I struggled with when I was younger, and things I’ve gone through—and being able to help them through those hard times, or just be that person for them when they don’t have anybody else,” she said.
For White, too, working with students is the best part of her job.
“I just love watching people work toward and meet their goals and helping bridge that gap,” she said. “It’s amazing.”
For other mothers and daughters who get a chance to work together, Ashmore offered advice.
“Enjoy it,” she said. “Because it’s a privilege that not a lot of people get. If you do have that opportunity you’re really very, very lucky.”
About the Aberdeen Public School District
The Aberdeen Public School District provides a comprehensive educational program to approximately 4,200 students in grades K-12, with a mission of empowering all students to succeed in a changing world. Our students receive the knowledge and skills necessary to reach their potential in a global community through high expectations of academic achievement; diverse educational opportunities; and community involvement in a safe, supportive environment. Learn more at aberdeen.k12.sd.us