Jackson County Library Services Q & A With Denisse Dent

Denisse is a Dual Language 3rd-grade teacher at Table Rock Elementary

Can you tell us about your career journey to becoming a Dual Language 3rd Grade Teacher at Table Rock Elementary? 

I graduated from Oregon State University in 2021 with a double Bachelor’s in Human Development & Family Sciences and Elementary Education with an ESOL endorsement. After graduating, TRE was the place I knew I wanted to be and it was the one and only place I applied to. I knew that teaching Dual Language (DL) was exactly what I wanted to do as I grew up as an English Language Learner, and DL was something I didn’t have access to in a rural Kansas town. Being a Dual Language Teacher at Table Rock Elementary is a way I feel I am able to give back to the community and where I can reach and support our English language learners/bilingual students in a way I wish I had been given growing up. 

Reflecting on the school year thus far, what has been a real standout moment? 

One of the most memorable moments for me has been experiencing the sense of community with my team as we work together to best meet the needs of our students. They are the people I rely on, and I feel comfortable being my authentic self with them. I can turn to them when I need help, a pick-me-up, or just a shoulder to lean on. I believe that having a strong community within our grade-level team is important because school feels like our second home, and I genuinely look forward to seeing them each day.