LORI KEITT Teaching assignments: Pre- kindergarten Former City and school district ( or former position at PAISD): I was a kindergarten teacher and reading specialist at the Early Childhood Center at Flour Bluff ISD.

Where did you grow up? All over! I was born in Nebraska, but lived in Colorado, Virginia and Texas.

College education: I graduated from the University of Houston.

Family: I have been married for 31 years to Ellis Keitt. My daughter Amy is 21 and a senior at Texas State University majoring in education. My son Bill is 19 and a sophomore at Texas State University majoring in a pre-veterinary program.

Hobbies: I love to read.

Reason (besides a job) that you chose to come to Port Aransas: I am excited about their Balanced Literacy initiative. I have spent my career working with this valuable teaching method.

Forget the cost, if you could do anything to improve the ability of Texas schools to better educate and prepare students to be capable adults, what would that be?

Our job as educators is to spark the children’s interest in learning. I would achieve this by providing the children with a literacy-rich environment and learning experiences that the children might not necessarily have otherwise. Once children have found their passion, they can set their own path to become independent lifelong learners. Teach them how to learn and they will keep learning!

Why did you choose education as a career? I have always enjoyed working with young children. I love to watch the excitement in their eyes as they learn and when they realize that they can do something on their own.

How many years have you been in education? This is my 26th year as an educator.

What special talent/skill do you bring to PAISD? I love to incorporate non-fiction reading and science in my classroom in order to make learning fun. Come by and see the zoo!

Tell us something about yourself that most people don’t know or would be surprised to learn: If I wasn’t a teacher, I would be a park ranger!