For kindergarten teacher Debbie Eller, teaching is about much more than academics, it is about building relationships that last well beyond a single school year. Eller has been part of the Tramway Elementary School family since 2020, after teaching for a year in Harnett County and many years in Western NC and Wake County as a teacher assistant.
"I think the best thing about teaching here is just the people, the community," Eller said. That strong sense of connection is something she experiences long after her students leave kindergarten. "The students, even my COVID babies, come back to see me. They're fifth graders now, and they still come back to visit even though we were virtual for so long."
Those relationships often extend to families as well. "I've had several of their parents ask if I would come to their graduations and be there for that," she shared. "It really just is special to be part of their lives beyond the one year that they are in my classroom."
Although Eller is not originally from the area, she says teaching in a small town has helped her feel connected. "I do love being in a small town," she explained, adding that, "because of the kids, I just feel like everyone knows me." She makes it a point to stay involved in students' lives outside the school, too. "I hope the kids know that they can always come back to me. I hope that they know that I do not just love them while they are at school, I care about them out in the community, too." Whether it is a soccer game or a dance recital, Eller shows up because, as she says, "relationships really do matter."
Inside her kindergarten classroom, Eller focuses on helping students love learning and feel proud of their growth. "My ultimate goal is that when they are done with a year in my class, they are coming to school every day and they love what they are doing," she explained. "They love to come, their smart little brains are growing." Known affectionately as the "Smartie Queen," Eller rewards students with Smarties candy to celebrate their hard work and developing minds.
Her classroom culture centers on kindness and leadership through a system she calls "bucket fillers." Students earn recognition for positive behavior everywhere they go - standing in line, visiting the cafeteria, or when others offer compliments of her class. "I try to make it so that every little thing they do, they are always rewarded," she added. "It doesn't take 20 of this or that to get them a reward, because I like seeing them choose to be a leader every day."
Recently, her class even earned an ice cream party after filling their bucket together. "It really is special for me to be able to give back to them because they are being good leaders for me," Eller said. She has found once students understand what being a bucket filler means - being polite, using your manners, following the rules - they are eager to show their best selves each day. "When they come down to our leadership carpet, they come down like a leader, and they know they are getting ready to grow their smart brains and get ready for first grade."
As both an educator and a parent, Eller values the opportunities available to students in the district and community. Reflecting on her own children's experiences, she said, "It really does not matter what your kids are interested in, there are great opportunities available to them in this district and in our community."
Through her warmth, consistency, and commitment to relationships, Debbie Eller ensures her kindergarten students leave her classroom feeling confident, cared for, and excited about learning - knowing they always have a place to return to get their encouragement bucket filled.