Teacher: ‘It was a ministry for me’

Published 10:11 pm Thursday, November 2, 2017

A longtime director and teacher at Faith Presbyterian Kindergarten is sharing funny memories from the students she taught in her 25 years with the program.

Harriet Proffitt started the FPK program in 1981 and retired in 2006.

While teaching, Proffitt would write comments on sticky notes about funny things the kids said in the classroom.

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At the end of the year, she would print out the funnies in a brochure called Quips and Quotes and pass them out at graduation.

“I had a student tell me one time that I reminded her of a preacher. I thought to myself that I’m doing a pretty good job explaining our Bible lesson of the day and then she told me it was because I yell,” Proffitt said.

Another story included a student telling Proffitt that her pet fish had died and that she was sad.

Proffitt said that another student came to the sad student’s aid to comfort them and said that her pet fish had died as well and her parents flushed it down the toilet.

She said parents would always tell her that she needed to write a book with the quotes.

“About a year ago, I ran across a folder as I was cleaning out my office at the house. I found this treasure of a folder with all of the funny things that my friends shared in class,” Proffitt said.

Each morning, she brews a pot of coffee and shares a few quotes on Facebook.

“I get the biggest kick out of it. I’ll drink my coffee and be laughing out loud by myself in the kitchen. It’s brought me a lot of joy,” Proffitt said.

Many parents comment on the memories posted on Proffitt’s Facebook page and she said she’s gotten so many positive comments about how many people were enjoying it.

“My mother always wanted me to write a children’s book, but I had no imagination,” said Proffitt. “My students had it for me.”

After retiring from FPK, Proffitt sold Pampered Chef for 10 years. She now enjoys spending days with her grandson Michael and her two dogs.

Looking back at her FPK days, she’s thankful for the time she had there.

“It was just so much fun going everyday. It didn’t feel like a job. I looked forward to going and seeing my little friends and sharing Jesus with them,” said Proffitt. “It was a ministry for me.”