My first classroom was general education elementary, and I walked in with almost no behavior training. I figured it out the slow way: one hard day, one curious question, and one kid at a time.

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From there I taught third grade, seventh grade math, and special education from second through eighth grade, mostly in self-contained classrooms for students with significant behavior needs. I ran a behavior-focused program in middle school, and most recently, an elementary classroom we called the Mindfulness Room. I also homeschooled my own three kids, which taught me a few things no college course ever covered.

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The students who struggled the most were always my favorites. To me, they were puzzles, and I wanted to solve them for a reason: when I understood a student’s behavior, I could teach them better ways to get what they needed. That opens doors. It gives kids more choices now and a better shot at growing into confident, contributing adults. Trying to figure out those puzzles is what led me to applied behavior analysis and eventually to becoming a BCBA. I still work directly with kids and families today.

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I wrote Everything Was Perfect Until the Kids Arrived because new teachers deserve better than the trial and error I went through. 

Heather deRijke Getchell, M.Ed., BCBA