From Britain to Round Top-Carmine ISD

As the school year gets underway, we’re profiling a new teacher at all five public school districts in Fayette County. Next in the series is Sue Simpson who is a new paraprofessional at Round Top-Carmine ISD.

Simpson unlike the other teachers we have featured is a paraprofessional. A paraprofessional fulfills a variety of roles in the classrooms and school district and is a direct service to students. “I am employed to do remediation for students that are struggling,” said Simpson. “I go wherever is needed as an extra.”

Also unlike our other teachers, Simpson is not from the United States. Simpson is from Buckinghamshire, England. She moved to Houston in 1984 where she raised five children. She would find her teaching skills and love for helping and interacting with children when she started working at the preschool where her children were as a substitute. “They said they loved the way I was with my children so why don’t you substitute at the school,” said Simpson. From there she would go on to work her way up to a director of a preschool and then become one of the founders of the first British school to move to Houston where she would stay for 10 years. She has also taught preschool in Thailand.

She moved out to the country in Washington County six years ago with her granddaughter who goes to Round Top-Carmine ISD. “I wanted my granddaughter to have an experience like I did growing up in a smaller school and Round Top-Carmine ISD is just so unique,” said Simpson. “My granddaughter and I both love it here. It is a family here. The staff genuinely treats the children like they are their very own, so once I heard the school had a position open I was delighted to apply.”

Becoming a paraprofessional seems to be a perfect fit for Simpson. “I was a welfare officer in the British school which is like a nurse, I helped put in place of what was required for the state to grant accreditation and licensing, I taught the foundation unit with the three and four-year-olds, and I worked in the office,” said Simpson. “I love to be all over the place so it’s a perfect job for me.”

Question: What was your favorite subject in school?

Answer: “History”

Question: What is your favorite British dessert?

Answer: “Scones with fresh cream, strawberries, or fruit spread.”

Question: Describe yourself in three words.

Answer: “Happy, positive, and kind.”

Question: What is your ideal job?

Answer: “On an island, because I could take the kids to a beach like I did in Thailand.”

Question: Can you play a musical instrument? If not what do you wish you could play and why?

Answer: “No, but I wish I could play the piano.”

Round Top-Carmine ISD may be one of the smallest school districts in Fayette County, but it just gained a world of experience with Simpson.