About Me
Welcome to my exit essay! My name is Mrs. Kelly Garrick, and I teach physical science and earth space science with Florida Virtual School. I have recently completed my Masters in Reading Education at Florida Gulf Coast University.
I was born in Lake Charles, Louisiana, and moved to sunny Naples, FL in 1984 with my mom, Dawn. She was a single mother and worked hard to provide for me. In 1988 she met and married my stepfather, Tom. He has always been a strong influence in my life (and always the one who helped me with my homework). I always loved school as I was growing up and felt that I always had the desire to learn MORE. In 1999 I graduated from Barron Collier High School where I was a member of the Marching Band, Key Club, and Theater. I headed off to Florida Southern College where I began my college career with a double major in Art and Psychology. I wanted to be an art therapist. I later realized that my true joy was teaching and that that was my calling. In 2003, I graduated from Florida Southern College with my BA in Elementary Education.
After graduating, I began working as a fourth grade teacher at the same school in which I attended as a child! Some of the same teachers were still there! I had so many wonderful experiences throughout the five years that I worked as an elementary teacher. I actually received many awards/recognitions of which I am very proud. In 2007 I was named Collier County’s Social Studies Teacher of the Year,and,in 2008, I received the honor of being named a ‘Teacher of Distinction.’ I also wrote and received numerous grants which allowed me to do fun and innovative activities in my classroom. In May of 2007,I found out that I was expecting! It was very exciting news, and my students that year threw me a baby shower! I worked until November of the following school year and then took some time off to get ready for the bundle of joy that was about to enter our lives. On January 11th, my first child, Peyton Grace Garrick, was born. She weighed 7 lbs, 6 oz, and was 21 inches long. I decided right then and there that I would be taking some time off to spend with her!I finally made the decision to go back to teaching in the spring of 2009. A friend of mine had told me about this wonderful opportunity called Florida Virtual School. She explained that it was an online K-12 school that allowed its teachers to work out of their homes! How perfect!! I applied, and within a month I was an Earth Space Science and Physical Science teacher with FLVS. Whenever anyone asks, all I can say is, "I have got the greatest job in the world!"My husband, Jonathan, and I still enjoy life in Naples, FL. I have a beautiful step daughter named Sydney who is 11 years old and in 5th grade. I enjoy helping her with her homework just as my stepdad did for me. My parents are still in town too and we see them for BBQs, game nights, and dinners once or twice a week. That is me in a nutshell!
I was born in Lake Charles, Louisiana, and moved to sunny Naples, FL in 1984 with my mom, Dawn. She was a single mother and worked hard to provide for me. In 1988 she met and married my stepfather, Tom. He has always been a strong influence in my life (and always the one who helped me with my homework). I always loved school as I was growing up and felt that I always had the desire to learn MORE. In 1999 I graduated from Barron Collier High School where I was a member of the Marching Band, Key Club, and Theater. I headed off to Florida Southern College where I began my college career with a double major in Art and Psychology. I wanted to be an art therapist. I later realized that my true joy was teaching and that that was my calling. In 2003, I graduated from Florida Southern College with my BA in Elementary Education.
After graduating, I began working as a fourth grade teacher at the same school in which I attended as a child! Some of the same teachers were still there! I had so many wonderful experiences throughout the five years that I worked as an elementary teacher. I actually received many awards/recognitions of which I am very proud. In 2007 I was named Collier County’s Social Studies Teacher of the Year,and,in 2008, I received the honor of being named a ‘Teacher of Distinction.’ I also wrote and received numerous grants which allowed me to do fun and innovative activities in my classroom. In May of 2007,I found out that I was expecting! It was very exciting news, and my students that year threw me a baby shower! I worked until November of the following school year and then took some time off to get ready for the bundle of joy that was about to enter our lives. On January 11th, my first child, Peyton Grace Garrick, was born. She weighed 7 lbs, 6 oz, and was 21 inches long. I decided right then and there that I would be taking some time off to spend with her!I finally made the decision to go back to teaching in the spring of 2009. A friend of mine had told me about this wonderful opportunity called Florida Virtual School. She explained that it was an online K-12 school that allowed its teachers to work out of their homes! How perfect!! I applied, and within a month I was an Earth Space Science and Physical Science teacher with FLVS. Whenever anyone asks, all I can say is, "I have got the greatest job in the world!"My husband, Jonathan, and I still enjoy life in Naples, FL. I have a beautiful step daughter named Sydney who is 11 years old and in 5th grade. I enjoy helping her with her homework just as my stepdad did for me. My parents are still in town too and we see them for BBQs, game nights, and dinners once or twice a week. That is me in a nutshell!
