I have several names when I'm walking in my neighborhood. If they call me Sydra, that's probably a friend. But when parents and children who attend my neighborhood school see me, I usually hear "Ms. Mallery!" My pronouns are always the same though, she/her. On this, my twenty-fifth year teaching elementary school, I am delighted to be teaching third grade -- one of my absolute favorites -- I call it "the sweet spot." I have been working with Proud Educators since day one. This work has made me more brave, more authentic, and a better educator. I love supporting other teachers, telling stories, and being a role model. In all of my free time, aka summer, I love to write stories and poems, go kayaking and hiking, and do yoga. This summer, I became a bit of a donkey expert for a story I'm writing.