On most mornings, Desi Kinkade starts her day the same way many Benton students do—by arriving at Benton Grade School ready to jump in. The difference is that now she is on the grown-up side of the doors, helping children begin their day with a friendly welcome and a steady hand.

Kinkade, a 2020 graduate of Benton High School, returned to the district this school year as a teacher’s aide in the special education classroom for grades two through four, working alongside teacher Victoria Towers. The classroom serves seven students, and the needs vary from child to child.

For Kinkade, coming back to Benton feels natural because Benton is the only hometown she has ever really known. She shared that she arrived in the community as a toddler, explaining that she “moved to Benton when I was 22 months old” after being adopted. She and her sisters were adopted, while her two brothers are her parents’ biological children, and she credits her parents with building a strong, secure foundation for their family. When she talks about her childhood here, her gratitude is immediate and sincere, saying her parents “gave us the best life,” and that she has been in Benton ever since.

As she walks in the halls today, she still recognizes many of the adults around her, and she noted with a smile that “some of these teachers were here whenever I was a kid,” and now she is watching them retire or move into new chapters.

After high school—during what she called her “COVID graduate” year—Kinkade worked in childcare. She spent years in daycare settings, including time at Little Treasures in Christopher. Working with young children fits her personality. She described herself as someone who has always been drawn to caregiving, sharing that she has “always loved kids” and has long been “a little bit of a mother hen,” especially as one of five siblings.

Becoming a mother deepened that perspective. Kinkade and her partner, Daniel Holloway, welcomed their daughter, who recently turned one. She explained that the daycare hours “don’t work really well when you have small children of your own,” and that the decision to change jobs was hard—but ultimately right.

She started at Benton Grade School in August, and the difference was immediate. She shared that she loves the rhythm of the school day and the way the staff supports one another, especially when family life becomes unpredictable. With her daughter being sick often this year, Kinkade said the response from the school has been compassion and understanding, describing how “they have been so understanding and so easy to work with,” and adding that it matters to be in a place that “cares that I’m a mom also and not just an employee.”

Her day begins early, often arriving before she is required to be there so she can help prepare. Then she heads to morning duty on the kindergarten side, helping children out of cars and greeting them as they arrive. She said that part of the job is “so fun” because the students are excited and eager, and the simple act of saying good morning helps them start their day well.

Inside the special education classroom, the work is hands-on and relationship-driven. The room is set up differently than many people might expect—Kinkade explained that they use tables rather than desks and that the space includes toys, crafts, and activities designed to support learning through movement and creativity. She described the room as “full of creativity, fun,” and emphasized that it is still serious learning, just shaped around what students need most.

The students participate in parts of the day with their general education peers as well. Kinkade explained that they do recess with general education classes, attend rotations like art, music, and library, and build those experiences into their routines so students can practice social skills and comfort in broader settings.

Kinkade is honest that the work is not always easy. Some students are nonverbal, and some students just communicate differently. Other days, students struggle with expectations, just like any child might. But she returns again and again to what makes the work worth it—the moments when something finally clicks. She described it as “the most rewarding job that I’ve ever had,” because when a student learns a skill they have worked hard for, the joy is shared by everyone in the room.