When I stepped into the VW eLab for the first time last year, I felt both excited and nervous. After fourteen years teaching Pre-K, I was stepping into a new role where I would be the learner as much as the teacher. Surrounded by 3D printers, laser cutters, coding robots, and curious young minds, I quickly realized that the eLab wasn’t just a space for students to explore. It was a space for me to grow, too.
Each day brought new discoveries as my students and I learned together. There were times we celebrated our successes and times we learned through trial and error, but every challenge became an opportunity to model perseverance and curiosity. I found myself saying often, “I don’t know yet… but let’s figure it out together.” And that simple phrase transformed our classroom culture. Students began to see that learning isn’t about knowing everything; it’s about being brave enough to try, explore, and grow.
Over the course of the year, I grew not only in technical knowledge but also in confidence as a teacher leader. The VW eLab gave me the opportunity to collaborate across grade levels, support other teachers in integrating technology, and share our students’ work with our community. That growth was humbling and rewarding, and being selected by my colleagues as Teacher of the Year for Normal Park Museum Magnet Lower School was an honor that reminded me how powerful shared learning can be.
As I begin my second year, I’m entering our VW eLab with a deeper appreciation for what it truly means to be a lifelong learner. I may not have all the answers but I have the joy of learning, side by side with my students, every single day.
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