When they started school last September, Amy Soltys’ second-grade students still had the giggling, squirmy tendencies of first-graders. But by the last week of school, it was evident her assortment of 10 girls and 10 boys had gained the math skills, reading skills and, best of all, listening and focusing skills to move on. They had morphed into polished students, ready for third grade.

“When they came in here they were still first-graders, and now are able to work on their own for half an hour,” she said.

During this last week, while the anticipation of summer hit the 7- and 8-year-olds full force, Soltys still looked as crisp as her first day. She was tired from staying up until 10:30 p.m. for at least a week finishing report cards, but it didn’t show. She was as sharp as ever in the classroom, because a teacher must greet every day with plenty of energy.

The North Bend Elementary School teacher’s first official year in the profession was one of learning. She found that a teacher’s work is never done, that a teacher’s house can go without cleaning because the mountain of homework to grade, and the art pieces to cut out, take precedence over dusting, mopping and scrubbing toilets. She further grew to understand sleep is valuable, and that if a teacher doesn’t take the three-minute window of opportunity during the school day to use the restroom or eat, it’ not going to happen.

Sometimes she’l have a lesson well prepared and her students won’ understand it, or it won’ work out. Then other times, she feels the lesson plan might not work, but they pick up on it quicker than expected.

” had no clue what to expect. But I made it, I’ still standing,”she said.

This was Soltys first full year as a teacher. Last year, she taught fifth and sixth grades half-time in Federal Way. It was clear that she’ be a teacher a few years into college, and her mother always knew Soltys would excel at it. She summed up her first-year experience with an analogy.

“he way to describe teaching is sailing,”Soltys said. “You’re in the boat, it’s calm, the sun’s out, you’re getting so much done. Then you hit a squall. And you get tossed and turned and a little queasy, but everything turns out good anyway.

“Then there are other times that it’s a hurricane. And your boat flips, your supplies go flying, you’re soaked, you’re numb and swimming alongside. But somehow, you right the boat. You crawl back on, the sun comes out, your clothes dry and you get picked up by a big cruise ship and everything is right again.”

Throughout the year, the fledgling teacher had the school district’s support and guidance with its teacher induction program, which was created for teachers to have a successful transition from internships to their first official teaching job. Between mentoring and Soltys’ natural talent for teaching, something must have worked because her superiors are pleased.

“She’s energetic, works many long hours and her kids have made great progress during the year,” said Principal Linda Sirianni. “She just puts her whole heart into it.”

At the beginning of the school year, the students were largely distracted, talking all at once or whenever a thought popped into their minds. This is the norm for the age, Soltys said, and the challenge is getting them to focus their attention. But by the end of the year, one of life’s most important lessons – listening and waiting your turn – had been learned. Last week, one student caught himself talking out of turn, slapped his hand over his mouth, eyes wide, and sheepishly whispered, “Sorry.”

Now Soltys’ students show more self-control, they can sit quietly and “don’t need the teacher every second of the day,” she said. Their attention span is longer, and they are showing greater independence, which Soltys thinks is great. The class discussed respect, especially in the area of when to talk and when to listen. They also learned responsibility and that it was up to them to remember to do their homework.

“When they come in to me, it takes me a good two months to figure out where they are and who they are, what experiences they have and what knowledge foundation, and where do I go from there,” Soltys said.

Taking everyone’s learning level into consideration, Soltys taught a myriad of subjects, including South America, Snoqualmie Valley pioneers, butterflies, the differences and changes in solids, liquids and gasses, soils and growing systems, art, addition, subtraction, money, time, measurement, multiplication and division. And she threw some logic into the mix. She considers logic an important subject to learn early on because it’s a necessary skill in life.

“Society is all about problem solving. Life is all about problems. And if you can think critically and make informed decisions, then you’re set,” she said. Soltys is also pleased that many of the students have learned independence, another quality she believes is needed as children become adults.

Throughout the year, Soltys’ strict but caring classroom manner won the students over. It was evident in the bouquet of clover and wildflowers delivered to her desk after recess and the way the children ran up to her right before school started to tell her of summer vacation plans. One girl flung off her fisherman’s hat to reveal a haircut.

“Ta-da. Mrs. Soltys, look!” she squealed, swishing her short, dark hair back and forth.

One students’ appreciation for Soltys was emulated in a poem penned for a creative writing assignment: “Roses are red, violets are blue. Teachers are good, but Mrs. Soltys is better.”

In their last week as second-graders, the students seem excited about summer but reluctant to leave their beloved teacher and move to the next grade level. Some of Soltys’ students seemed downright worried about third grade.

“They won’t tie our shoes, huh, Mrs. Soltys?’ one boy asked.

Soltys and her students mutually benefited from the bond they formed. But as every teacher knows, the children they have taught, coached and watched bloom into taller, more knowledgeable people, must move on.

And when Amy Soltys meets her next set of second-graders this fall, she’ll be ready to guide them through another year.