Lakeland Academy teacher Desiree Bender finds purpose in guiding and inspiring students

Desiree Bender has been a teacher at Lakeland Academy in Freeport for four years, working with fifth through eighth grade students in all subjects — English language arts, social studies, math, health and science. She holds a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education from Kent State University, which qualifies her to teach through the eighth grade.

Bender said she became a teacher because of her lifelong love for kids. “I was a pediatric nurse for 14 years. I was done with the nursing career but wanted to stick with helping kids,” she said.

A lifelong Harrison County resident, Bender lives in Cadiz and enjoys the sense of “small town support” that has kept her connected to the community. She has volunteered at the Mark at the Park in Cadiz, helping sell tickets to concerts and events, and she stays involved with students through activities like library days and school dances.

When asked what Lakeland Academy means to her, Bender said, “It’s my heart and soul. It’s what I want to put all my effort into. My goal as a mother is to raise productive humans in society. So my goal as a teacher is to lead the younger kids to become productive members of society. That’s my teaching philosophy.”

Her favorite part of the profession is the children she works with every day. “The connection with them, the trust the kids put in me to lead them in the right direction, and the interaction with the parents,” she said. “And of course all my support here from my colleagues.”

Bender also credits her own teachers for inspiring her approach in the classroom. “She was my fifth grade science and social studies teacher. She was connected to each of us individually and treated us each individually,” Bender said of Mrs. McDevitt, who influenced her teaching philosophy.

“That’s something she’s taken on in her own classroom,” she said. “Each child is different and so a lot of blanket statements do not apply to all children. I don’t want to say everybody gets special treatment but I take everybody individually into consideration.”

Bender said she loves her profession, her coworkers and is excited for what the year will bring. She encourages parents to consider Lakeland for their children.

“Come join our small community school. We have a blast. I try to do fun things with the kids — be silly and be on their level — because I want school to be enjoyable and somewhere they want to come,” she said.