By ROWENA PLETT

Staff writer

Stephania Martin decided education was the career for her because it was a way to help others and provide for the future.

The children are the best part of her job.

“They are fun, and every day is unique,” she said. “No two days are alike.”

Martin, a Herington resident, is the only new teacher at Centre this year and will take on second grade.

Her first career choice was to be a doctor.

“I always knew I wanted to help people,” she said, “but the years of schooling required led me to change my mind.”

Martin is a December 2014 graduate of Emporia State University, with degrees in elementary education and social studies.

She grew up in a military family, so she moved frequently, living mostly in Texas and Kansas.

She and her husband, Jason, were married in April 2015 and lived in Manhattan. She taught school at Wamego, including kindergarten for two years and first grade for three years.

At Wamego, Martin had a full classroom, but this year she will have eight students. She is excited to develop one-on-one relationships with each of them.

Martin appreciates the support she is receiving from the administration.

“They are very helpful,” she said. “If I need something, I can get it right away.”

She and her husband have two children: Arthur, 3; and Winnifred, 6 months. Jason, who grew up in Herington, works at Clark Lumber Co.

“We liked Manhattan, but we always wanted to come back home and have that small-town support,” Martin said.