An initiative of Jasper County Schools
Finishing Strong
By Barry Engelhardt
After thirty-four years of teaching first through sixth grade in the Jasper County area, Julie Chapman laughs as she comfortably admits that some students occasionally get the impression that she’s mean. I hear the opposite as she explains why some might feel that way. While she may show some tough love, it’s because of her relentless optimism for her students and their infinite capabilities.
“I expect kids to respect each other, respect themselves. I expect them to work hard every day. I expect them to show respect to adults and other students. I expect a lot,” shares Julie, adding, “The social piece is big. They can do great things, but to do that, they have to show us the great.”
Julie is retiring at the end of the school year after spending the past twenty years teaching sixth grade. While she has experience teaching several earlier grades and believes they each have their unique gift, she learned to love sixth grade especially. While first through fifth grade are skills-based and foundational, Julie says the atmosphere can relax by sixth grade, and her teaching methods can expand. She shares that she’s able to introduce sarcasm, and the students can laugh and joke with her. Her love for her students is obvious, as is her work-hard and play-hard mentality.
Julie has six grown children who attended the Jasper County school system. She’s also a grandmother and grins as she shares that her oldest son is currently the Assistant Superintendent at Robinson and was her boss for a few years. As she looks towards retirement at the end of the school year, Julie says travel will likely feature heavily in this next phase of life, adding with a smile, “I am looking forward to future travels.”
While Julie loves to travel to other places, she’s proud to call Jasper County home. “That old adage, it takes a village. We have so many people here willing to help care for one another. It’s a very giving community. People here are good-hearted, hard-working and responsible. We take care of each other here in Jasper County. I love it here,” says Julie.
Julie feels that this Jasper County methodology also makes the school district great. She says that her coworkers are comfortable asking for help and opinions and pitch in when they notice there is a need.
She laughs while her husband teases her and suggests she coast through her last year. Her reply and her philosophy are both pretty simple. She understands challenges and has been through quite a few herself, but she describes herself as determined and tries to instill that in her students by example.
“I’m not letting up until the last day. Finish Strong,” says Julie. After all, if you want students to do great things, you have to show them the great.
We take care of each other here in Jasper County. I love it here.
