Student Enjoys Helping Out at Her Old School

It’s a story about the circle of life that would make even the head of Simba the Lion King spin.

Sheryl Christenson, 20, signed up to be a part-time kindergarten teacher’s assistant through a Los Angeles Unified School District program that puts education majors into jobs at public schools.

Christenson asked to be placed at Tarzana Elementary, the school she had attended.

The coordinators of the Kindergarten Intervention Program not only arranged for her to return to her alma mater, but also hooked Christenson up with Carole LaVo, who had been her teacher when she was 5 years old.

“I can’t believe I’ve been here that long,” said LaVo, who revealed that she, too, had attended Tarzana Elementary.

The Kindergarten Intervention Program, funded by school board member Julie Korenstein, was developed to bolster self-esteem in children at an early age by providing kindergartens in parts of the San Fernando Valley with teacher’s assistants.

The assistants are college students who are looking to do field work with children, said Vic Esban, a program coordinator.

Christenson, an education major, said she has enjoyed working at her old elementary school with her former kindergarten teacher.

“I feel like I’m back in kindergarten,” said Christenson, who spends her three hours a week at Tarzana helping and playing with the students.

“People have no idea what you have to do in the three hours,” said LaVo about her workload.

LaVo’s class is made up of students of all learning levels, and some require more attention than others. And LaVo said she appreciates all the help she can get.

In her 34 years as an educator, LaVo said she has had several experiences like that of Christenson coming back to help her teach.

Recently, she was invited to the 30th birthday party of a former student and also had the child of a former student in her class.

Recalling her school days at Tarzana, Christenson said, “Everything seemed so much bigger. . . . Everything was so grand. Even just walking to the cafeteria, the auditorium.”