This week’s spotlight features former staff member Lacey Norwood. While her roots are in Tennessee, having grown up in Heritage and now living in Watertown, she found her way to Bowling Green when she began attending classes at WKU.
When asked what prompted her to apply at Community Education, Norwood said, “Before Community Education, I worked at Dillard’s, but once I changed my major to education, I felt it was best to start working with children early on. There is no better experience than starting with a before and after-school program!”
What are you proudest of accomplishing at Community Education, and how did working here prepare you for the rest of your career? “I was a staff member for one semester before being recommended as a site supervisor at another school. My compassion for the kids and leadership skills led me to take over TC Cherry’s program quickly. I credit my experience with children solely to Comm Ed, where I received experience with special needs children, foster families, and different behavioral issues. Natalie Taylor Gentry taught me a lot about how to handle difficult situations and parent interactions professionally. I am thankful for my time at Comm Ed and the life lessons it taught me. It absolutely made a difference in the educator I am today.”
We inquired if she had anything else she would like to share about Community Education or her time spent working here, and Norwood stated: “I highly recommend any college student in the education field to work for Comm Ed because of the experience with the kids, interacting with parents, and the summer camps were a blast. The impact you make on a child could last a lifetime!”
After several years of working with our agency, Norwood moved to Nashville and worked as a Site Director for the YMCA’s before and after-school programs. She married her husband Jim, started a family, and became a stay-at-home mom with their four children. As the children went on to school, Norwood did the same, both as an educator and a student. Having her bachelor’s in physical education, she was able to jumpstart her career as a Middle School Strength/Conditioning Coach, as well as a K-5 PE teacher and Volleyball Coach with the Wilson County school system.
On top of raising a family and working full-time, Norwood is also pursuing a Master of Physical Education at Cumberland University.