As a child, Janice Downey Andrews, BS, MA would pretend to be a teacher by lining up her dolls and standing at a chalkboard. Her desire to pursue teaching was cultivated at a very young age. She received a Bachelor of Science from the University of Tampa in 1969, and a Master of Arts from the University of South Florida in 1977. She is also a certified elementary teacher in the state of Florida and she has certification in English Speaking to Other Languages (ESOL). Ms. Andrews spent her career as a teacher in Pinellas County Schools in St. Petersburg, FL, and then in Hillsborough County Public Schools in Tampa, FL. Throughout her career, she has attributed her success to her many mentors. She was influenced by her first grade teacher, Ms. Anderson and by her aunt, Lelia Lamb, who was a kindergarten teacher for 25 years.
As a dedicated educator, Ms. Andrews is most grateful for moments in her career when she was able to get through to her students. She mostly enjoyed when she would work with a student who suddenly solved a problem that they had been working on because it meant that they learned something. When she retired, a lot of former students and their parents attended her reception and donated to the school library in her name. Today, Ms. Andrews regularly receives Christmas cards from students and parents. In her spare time in retirement, she enjoys reading, word searches, crossword puzzles, bowling, and exercising.
Contact Ms. Andrews:
