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On September
26th, 1979, as asteroid # 3443 was being discovered
by the Purple Mountain Observatory, I was born to
Steve and Sandra Sudderth. My parents owned and
operated a two hundred acre farm. The farm was a
major part of our lives and I loved it. Just like
the farm, Murphy, NC, where I have always lived,
has been a major part of my life.
I attended both elementary and high
school in Murphy. My first job was during the summer
before I became a high school senior, when I worked
for the Employment Security Commission as a clerical
aide. I finished my twelfth grade year early, graduating
in 1998, and started my first real job at Circuit
World, where I became manager of the movie club
I enrolled in the Early Childhood
Program at Tri-County Community College that fall
and continued to work at Circuit World, eventually
leaving to work for the circulation department of
the Cherokee Scout newspaper. During this time,
I completed my Child Care Credentials class and,
in 1999, received my certificate.
Part of my college childcare curriculum
required that I observe children. I did my child
observations at Tiny Tots Creative Learning Center,
located in Andrews. While I observed children, the
owner observed me and offered me a job. Of course
I accepted and that's how I got my first job working
with children! I began as an aide but, within a
month, was promoted to Lead Teacher of the three
to five year olds. I graduated from Tri-County Community
College May of 2001 with an Associate of Applied
Science Degree in Early Childhood.
I loved working at Tiny Tots and
was very happy with my position, but opportunity
knocked on my door again. I was offered a chance
to work for Cherokee County Schools as a Teacher's
Assistant. I became very conflicted over this new
and exciting opportunity. I loved my class at Tiny
Tots but wanted the opportunities that the county
had to offer. After many sleepless nights I decided
to accept the county position. In the fall of 2001,
I began work at Murphy Elementary School, where
I began my own education 16 years before.
At Murphy Elementary I am a Teacher's
Assistant in the second grade for half of the day
and the Librarian's Assistant the other half. I
have now been employed with the county for four
years and I love my job. Tiny Tots still has a special
place in my heart and that's why I go back every
summer to work with the school age summer program.
From a very young age I knew I wanted
to be a teacher and to work with children. I have
had to climb many steps to get to where I am and
there are still many more steps ahead for me. I
love working with children and giving back to the
community, even if it is only one child at a time.
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