For 24 years, Jennifer Ritzie has proudly served in elementary education for the Hamilton City Schools. She started with the district right as she graduated college.
“I attended the University of Cincinnati and as I was getting ready to graduate, a colleague of mine told me about a position she interviewed for in Hamilton with Kathy Leist at Adams Elementary,” Ritzie said. “Although the interview went very well, it would’ve been too far of a commute for my friend to consider so she suggested I pursue it. I interviewed with Kathy Leist soon afterward and was offered a position teaching in a first-second grade loop.”
Since being hired, Ritzie has taught at Adams, Cleveland and Brookwood elementary schools. She has been married to her husband, Mike, for 21 years and is currently teaching second graders at Brookwood. They have two children — Caroline is 19 and attends Miami University and Isabelle is 16 and attends Fairfield High School.
Teaching during the coronavirus pandemic has been something very different, Ritzie said.
“Even veteran teachers feel as if we’re just starting out. Nothing is the same as it was before.”
She says patience is the key to wading through this tougher-than-average year.
“Teachers, students and families need to know that a little patience goes a long way. There will be plenty of trial and error as we navigate our way through this school year with the obstacles we’re facing in education today. We need to accept that nothing will be perfect, but we will continue to do our best everyday to meet the needs of our students who need us now more than ever.”
If there is one lesson Ritzie hopes her students learn, it is simply to treat others well.
“My advice to students is to be a good person. Kindness is a gift everyone can afford to give,” she said.