Nora Ysasi 'a real gift' to Terra youth program
Polio not enough to keep her from teaching preschoolers
By MIKE DADICH
Staff writer
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News-Messenger/Diane Cebula
STUDENT TEACHER NORA YSASI sings "Herman the Worm" with Angelina Wright, 4, and Brenna Nye, 4, while they paint outside the Early Learning Center Wednesday at Terra Community College. Ysasi began student teaching over spring break and is planning on a June graduation.
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Working in a room full of 3- to 5-year-olds may seem like a nightmare to some, but for Nora Ysasi it's a dream come true. Ysasi, 40, said growing up in a house with 12 brothers and sisters got her used to dealing with young children. In addition to her siblings, Ysasi also has 45 nieces and nephews and 15 great-nieces and nephews.
"If you've got a big family, you can handle it (teaching preschoolers)," she said.
She is currently enrolled in the Early Childhood Education program at Terra Community College and is taking the capstone course for her major, student teaching in the Early Learning Center. She will earn an associate's degree in Early Childhood Education on June 7. This fall, she hopes to enroll in the University of Toledo to start working on her bachelor's degree in early childhood education.
She said she eventually would like to get a job in the Fremont area working with preschool students.
That is nothing out of the ordinary, except Ysasi, a 1984 Ross graduate, was diagnosed with polio when she was 6 months old and is now confined to a wheelchair because of the disease. But that hardly seems to slow her down. Although one may venture to guess that young children may take advantage of Ysasi's limited mobility, she said they all listen quite well. She also said there are others in the classroom who lend a helping hand when it's necessary. "To me," she said, "they're all sweet. You've got your challenges, but you've got to know how to talk to the children, and they'll listen to you." The children's eagerness to learn is what Ysasi enjoys most about teaching preschoolers. "You see that they're learning something, and the expression on their faces brings a joy to my heart," she said. Ysasi said something new or unexpected happens in her classroom almost daily. "They're very funny," she said. "You'd be amazed at some of the things they say." Ysasi said she enjoys teaching preschool students because she offers them more than academic instruction. "I like preschool because I'm not only teaching academics but also behavioral and social skills," she said.
Ysasi also mentioned that being a preschool teacher means keeping a positive mind frame at all times, especially in front of the children.
"With kids, you can't show your bad side," she said. She said she sometimes uses the same relaxation technique she teaches her students, which involves stopping for a moment to take a deep breath and relax.
Jennifer Perkins, coordinator of the Early Learning Center at Terra, said all the preschoolers in the program like Ysasi very much. "The kids all enjoy having her in the classroom," Perkins said. "They all call her name when she comes in and say good-bye when she leaves."
Norma Worley, assistant professor in the Early Childhood Education program, agreed and said her presence in the classroom has been a positive one.
"She's been a real gift to us and our program," she said.
Ysasi advised that anyone going into the field of education should make sure they enjoy working with children. "If you go into it, you need to like it and be interested in the children, their families and the community," she said.
Email Mike Dadich at mdadich@fremont.gannett.com
