Education
Allison Staley '12 & '17
Employer
1st Grade Teacher
1. Tell us about your journey since graduation.
After graduation, I began substitute teaching until I landed my
first job. I taught intervention my first year, followed by teaching
multiple grades over the next few years - 6th grade, 3rd grade, and
2nd grade. While at my first school, I went back to Grand Valley and
received my Masters degree. I left my first school after teaching
there for 6 years and moved closer to home teaching 1st grade - a
grade I never thought I would ever teach and I have fallen in love
with this grade! This is my third year teaching first grade. I’m also
using my admin degree a bit more as I am a team lead for the K-3
teachers. In 2015, I also became a Scentsy Consultant to help
supplement my teaching income and I have worked hard and helped over
140 people start their own business and have promoted to the 2nd
highest title with Scentsy!
2. Share a favorite Grand Valley memory.
I have so many memories! One of the top ones would be watching
our football team win the game that sent them to nationals! The goal
post got taken down by the fans rushing the field and we got to take a
picture with it. (We did not take it down, we just watched!) It snowed
the entire game, we were frozen, but it was one of the best games I
had been to while there!
3. What's the best piece of advice you've ever received?
Teaching will be hard. Find those people who will love you and
support you no matter what. Those are the people who are going to help
you thrive!
4. List three words you would use to describe your Grand
Valley experience.
Life-changing, crazy, and enlightening!
5. What difference would you like to make in the world?
With the current climate of our world, I want my students to know
they are loved, they are accepted, and to know that I would do
anything to protect them and keep them safe. They don’t just leave my
room as my former student, they leave my room as one of my kids!
March 2021
Interest Area(s)
Education-Elem Middle Teaching, Ed Specialist in Leadership (MA required)
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