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By Courtney Green
Special to Greene Publishing, Inc.
Mrs. Susan Pickles, a third grade teacher at Madison Academy, has been teaching students across Florida close to 30 years.
The new grandmother was born in Macon, Ga., but later moved to Lakeland where she spent the rest of her adolescent years.
At the tender of age of 10, Pickles knew that teaching children would be her life’s calling.
“When I was at church, they talked about a need for Christian school teachers,” said Pickles, “From that point I always planned on being a teacher.”
Living out her life’s calling, Pickles has been teaching at Madison Academy for 26 years. For 22 of those years, she has taught third grade students. She once taught the fourth grade at the beginning of her tenure at the academy.
When asked if third grade was her favorite grade level to teach, she replied: “Oh yeah, I love it, I love it!”
Pickles received her teaching degree from Providence Christian College in Brandon.
Everyday Pickles says she wants her student to know about God’s love.
“I mainly would like them [the students] to know that He’s concerned about them and everything that they’re doing,” said Pickles, “When they’re having trouble with math or trouble with something else, He wants to help them with that if they do their part.”
Pickles is encouraged by what she says God wants her to do in her students’ lives.
“I just try to do what I think God would want me to do each day, and what He’d like me to show the children,” said Pickles.
Pickles says that she wants to instill in her students that God will help them in any struggles if they do their part.
“You can’t not study for a test and say God give me an A,” said Pickles jokingly.
Pickles enjoys seeing children that she has taught in past years come back to her classroom to visit.
“I’ve taught a lot of kids,” said Pickles, “It’s good to see them come back.”
She mentioned that she’s always glad when her past students are successful in their lives.
“It’s nice to see that you had a part in someone turning out in the right way,” said Pickles.
Pickles said she realizes her important role in each of her student’s lives and that each of her colleagues plays a pivotal role in the lives of all students that matriculate through Madison Academy.