From N.Y. to Philadelphia, Mrs. Welles has come a long way

The Community Times Many students at Shaw Middle School think Mrs. Elaine Welles is very strict, but this English, science and math teacher says it's because she wants her students to do their best at all times. And for that, Mrs. Welles' students and colleagues admire her. Mrs. Welles said her inspiration came from her fifth-grade teacher. "She was loving, kind and interested in all children achieving," said Mrs. Welles, adding that she tries to have the same attitude with her students. Noting that she prefers teaching without having to deal with disciplinary measures, Mrs. Welles said she takes great pride in seeing her students demonstrate academic growth and maturation during each school year. A native New Yorker, Mrs. Welles' first teaching position was in her hometown of Roosevelt, N.Y. There, she taught her first elementary school class. In addition to being a teacher for more than 20 years, Mrs. Welles said she has always enjoyed taking care of infants and toddlers. She added that she is married and has two sons, "which takes up the rest of my time." Teaching, according to Mrs. Welles, is "very, very challenging." Her position gives her the opportunity to work with the "finest staff" in the Philadelphia Public School System. Fellow Shaw teacher Ms. Davis described Mrs. Welles as " a very dedicated and hard-working teacher." "Mrs. Welles goes beyond the call of duty to be sure the students are achieving," Ms. Davis added. Ms. Jenkins, a new reading teacher at Shaw, also praised Mrs. Welles, saying she has made her feel welcome at the school. Saying she knew she wanted to be a teacher since she was 11 years old, Mrs. Welles said she would not know what to do otherwise. But she quickly added that she would likely travel. "If I wasn't a teacher, I would probably select a job that dealt with traveling," she said. "I have had the opportunity to travel to West Africa, Spain, Switzerland, France and many Caribbean islands." As for encouraging others to enter her profession, Mrs. Welles said the ideal teacher must be "patient, kind, caring and nurturing."

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