From one day to the next, summer slides away and the school is mixture of excited teachers to nervous students awaiting their first day of school. As the cars roll in one by one, the nervousness grows. However, once you finally step out of the car you are greeted by the friendly face of Denise Joseph.

She taught home economics for three-and-a-half years, until taking a position at Carson Elementary where she would soon come to find her true passion, teaching kindergarten.

“I chose to stay because I love the little ones and they love you back, and I can help set the foundation for the rest of their learning,” Joseph said.

After years of teaching, she went back and earned her master’s degree in Child Development. Although her Kindergarten credentials are impressive, most kids remember her for her classroom pet, Zoe, the therapy dog.

“Probably the number one thing she does is provide unconditional love for the kids,” Joseph said. “No matter what kind of mood you’re in or what went on before you came to school, that dog is there.”

Joseph and Zoe have been dedicated to teaching children to help them prepare for the future.

“I want to build a solid foundation that includes emotional, social and pre- reading skills,” Joseph said.

Along with these key abilities, she always wanted students to develop a love of learning that stays with them.

“I want them to love, to learn and to know that learning is a lifetime process,” Joseph said.