Ashlyn Sizemore, just 24 years old, has already discovered where her heart lies—in the classroom, supporting students who need her most. As a paraprofessional in Benton’s fifth through eighth-grade special education room, she is one of two aides who work alongside teacher Amanda Lewis to guide eleven students through their daily lessons. Some are verbal, one is not, and all have unique needs that require patience, creativity, and compassion. For Ashlyn, it is exactly the kind of work that makes her feel like she is making a difference.

Her days follow a steady rhythm. Breakfast is served in the classroom, where the students begin their mornings together before diving into lessons. Much of the academic time is built around one-on-one or small-group instruction. Ashlyn leads the Edmark reading program, where she sits with students to read stories, help them take tests, and complete worksheets. Other times, she joins the group in “News2You,” a shared reading activity that introduces current events and new vocabulary. Math, science, art, music, and physical education round out the schedule, though nearly all instruction happens in their own classroom. “I love watching them master new skills,” Ashlyn said. “Even in just the first few weeks, I’ve seen progress. One little girl has been learning to write her name, and you can already see her handwriting getting better. She notices it too, and she’s so proud.”

The pride Ashlyn feels in her students’ progress mirrors the persistence she has shown in her own journey. Raised in Eldorado, she graduated from high school in 2019 before moving with her family to Thompsonville. Substituting there gave her an early taste of working in schools, often with children who had special needs. “I was always with a little boy who had autism,” she remembered. “That’s what drew me in. It showed me I could do this.”

Her educational path took some unexpected turns. After high school, she enrolled in a two-year court reporting program in St. Charles, Missouri, but after completing a year, the program was closed due to a lack of funding. The only transfer option was in Texas, and Ashlyn chose to come home instead. She worked at a small restaurant, later managed the Raleigh Water District, and eventually decided to return to school to pursue what she had wanted all along—teaching. Today, she is working toward a degree in elementary education through Western Governors University, balancing coursework with full-time work as a paraprofessional.

Life outside of school is just as busy. Ashlyn and her fiancé, Corbin Fitch, are raising their nearly one-year-old son, Briggs. Corbin works as a correctional officer at the Pinckneyville prison, a job that comes with risks. Over Labor Day, he was injured in an assault at work and now faces surgery and recovery. The young family leans heavily on the support of Ashlyn’s parents, Robert and Tracie Sizemore. Her father recently retired from corrections, while her mother left her job to care for aging parents. “We make it work,” Ashlyn said simply, noting how grateful she is to have her parents nearby.

Despite the challenges, Ashlyn looks to the future with determination. Fifteen years from now, she sees herself teaching in her own elementary classroom, ideally kindergarten or first grade. “I want to be a teacher,” she said. “That’s always been the goal.” While she isn’t certain if she will add special education to her certification, she knows the experience she’s gaining now is invaluable. “It’s shown me so much already,” she explained. “These kids are incredible.”

For Ashlyn, the sense of belonging at Benton has been as important as the work itself. “Even as an aide, you don’t feel like just an aide here,” she said. “You feel like a teacher. Everyone is treated with respect, and we all work together.” It’s a supportive environment that affirms her decision to step into education, even as she juggles motherhood, school, and the uncertainties of her fiancé’s recovery.

In her classroom, the reward comes each time a student reaches a milestone, whether it’s writing a name, sounding out a word, or finishing a worksheet with confidence. Those victories, however small, add up to something profound: a sense of growth, independence, and hope for the children she serves.

For Ashlyn Sizemore, this season of life is full of balancing acts—between family and career, between study and work, between challenge and opportunity. Yet through it all, she shows the same strength and heart she brings to her students each day. In the eyes of the eleven children she helps guide, she is not just an aide. She is a teacher, a supporter, and a steady hand helping them move forward.