Teresa Gillespie:  

s during my working career, but I have been involved in hotel/motel business and childcare for the majority of my working life. After I graduated from Northest, I worked for some lawyers in Chattanooga-did that for a couple of years and then moved to Dalton and went to work for the hospital here. I did that until I got married and my husband and I worked different shifts so I quit and got a job on the same shift as he worked. Thats when I got into the motel business. I ran the front desk/ office/ payroll/daily reports etc... for about 9 years and then I went into childcare. At first, I taught preschool(3 yr old) and taught a couple of years for Headstart. In 2003(after heart surgery) I returned to college(after 29 years of no school) and earned my degree in Elementary Education. I always wanted to be a teacher-that's what I always wanted to be when I grew up, so that is one life's dream I accomplished. Let me tell you, college is ALOT harder than it ever would have imagined now. I thought I would have a nervous breakdown before I finished. I wish someone had told me before I enrolled in Dalton State that is supposed to be the 3rd hardest college in the state of Georgia(thats what i have been told several times). I know it was extrememly hard for me-but I didd well--I surpised myself and I was very proud of my accomplishment. I finished in the summer of 2004, but didn't go through graduation exercises untill spring of 2005. I continued to work at the same place as I had been working for the past 9 years, but the degree enabled me to become Lead Teacher and receive a nice increase in salary. I have worked at Dalton Pre-k now for a total of 15 years and am the Supervisor of the school, as well as a lead teacher. Currently, Amanda my oldest daughter is my parapro/support teacher. It is wonderful to be able to be co-workers as well as mother and daughter. I do enjoy my job and will most likely continue to work untill I can't any longer.