Teacher describes classroom fundraiser, life-skills instruction during Cabell County Schools meeting

Michelle Cave, a self-contained special education teacher at Village of Arboresville Elementary, described a recent classroom fundraiser and daily life-skills instruction during public comment at a Cabell County Schools meeting. "It's so rewarding, and to be able to to see them love learning like I love learning is, is the best part of my job," she said.

Cave told the board that her students helped run a fundraiser where they served snow cones to classmates to raise money to buy tables. She said the activity let students practice "money skills," serve peers and work on communication in a classroom setting. "My kids got to serve and make snow cones for the school, and they got to work on money skills, and serve their peers, and work on communication," Cave said.

Cave described the classroom as a family and emphasized individualized instruction. "I like to be an advocate for students that can't always advocate for themselves and trying to figure out ways to meet students needs where they are because my students do have differing needs and, they all have something unique that they need," she said. She cited examples of gains she watches for, including students cheering, jump roping, participating with peers and competing in Special Olympics events. "Because these kids, this room, we're family...to watch them to sis to succeed and, to do big things in life, to be able to watch them Cheer, do jump rope, to participate with their peers, to succeed, Special Olympics. It's extremely heartwarming," she said.

Cave said that each school day brings different learning opportunities and milestones. "And every day I wake up and I'm like, what are we gonna do today? What what's gonna be that light bulb moment today? So I love my job because it it's never it's never the same. Every day is different, and I truly get to make an impact on kids and their families," she told the meeting.

No motions or votes were recorded in connection with Cave's remarks; her comments were part of the meeting's public-comment period and did not result in board action during the session.