Ms. Janeen Bailey

BACKGROUND

I've been an Austinite since 1997. I wasn't born in Austin, but I got here as soon as I could. I have three gorgeous children; Rachel, who lives with her family in Sulphur Springs. She is the mother of my grandson, Max (8). My other daughter, Michaelyn, lives with her family in Cedar Park.She is the mother Maddy (8), Alex (4), and Annabelle (2). My son, Jaxon (26), graduated UT and is now living in Japan and teaching english. I currently have one classroom pet. Scaler the snake that lives in my classroom and poses for a photo with students on their birthdays.

TEACHING CAREER

As a child, I played school with my next door neighbor, Dee Dee, who was younger and could not go to kindergarten with me. Everyday I came home and taught her whatever I had learned that day. Dee Dee went on to be accepted at a school for gifted and talented children and later on home schooled her own children based on our successful childhood model. So my teaching career started VERY early. I went on, as an adult, to teach everything from quilting to applied economics, although it was quite some time before I got to Texas State to be formally educated and certified. I had volunteered and done field work on other campuses in the Austin area, but I was thrilled to be assigned to Forest Trail for my student teaching. Once here at FTE (teacher heaven), there was no getting me to leave. I began teaching 4th grade in the fall of 2006, eventually moved to 2nd grade and finally landed teaching 3rd grade. I have seen where they have been and where they are going next! I believe this really helps me see the overall picture. But, when people ask me which grade I like best, I have to admit I love them all!