RATHDRUM — Every kindergartner who comes through Jodie DeVore’s class at Garwood Elementary School adopts an affirmation that will stay with them: “I can do hard things.” 

“I think kindergarten teachers are a little crazy because it’s just chaos,” DeVore said. “I love it, it’s so fun.” 

DeVore was recently named Teacher of the Year by Interim Superintendent Jake Massey after a districtwide vote.   

“I was just crying,” DeVore said. “I saw my whole family out there and said, "Why are you guys here?’ I was very surprised.” 

DeVore had been away from teaching for nearly a decade when she was recruited to teach kindergarten about 17 years ago. 

She originally taught second grade at Betty Kiefer Elementary School but took time off to spend with her family. 

She didn’t want to return to the profession, but after being shown the ropes, DeVore stopped resisting her calling and devoted herself to the youngest students.

She said she never thought she would receive this kind of recognition for teaching. 

“It was a big honor, I don’t feel worthy of it because I teach with amazing people at Garwood,” DeVore said. “It's just a nice surprise.” 

Watching her kids grow and change over the course of the school year is her favorite part of the job. 

“They can do hard things and every morning, we have some affirmations that we say and at the end of the year, they’re more ready for the big kid stuff of first grade,” DeVore said. 

Parents and staff often see her mantra used to help students get ready to try something new, whether it's playing on the monkey bars or learning to play basketball. 

"They can do it, and sometimes, it’s not yet, but you keep working at it,” DeVore said. “It's about who they are when they come in and who they are when they leave, their reading, their writing, adding or subtracting. They would have never known they could do that — yet.” 

DeVore said she loves teaching because her students are “curious and awesome and humbling.” 

She wants them to build a safe place where they can feel love and trust, because when a child feels safe, they can learn. 

“No matter what’s going on, all the crazy stuff out there, you’re going to have kids from families who are struggling, but no matter what, I want them to feel loved, secure and have fun,” DeVore said. 

    Kindergarten teacher Jodie DeVore won the Lakeland Teacher of the Year.