From Dental Assistant to Instructor
Working tables and tending bar, Staci Harris knew she needed more structure and financial stability in her life. That’s why, in 2008, she entered a career training program to become a Dental Assistant. The transition served her well and she really connected with the instructors. They taught her the skills she’d need to work in the field, but Staci also watched how they taught. It would stay in the back of her mind throughout her career.
A Dental Assisting Career
With her training behind her, Staci pursued a career as a Dental Assistant.
“I found a passion for Pediatrics,” says Staci.
And that’s where she worked for nearly 12 years –in pediatric dentistry. She loved the job, but mostly because she loved her patients. She speaks of one incident that stands out in her mind to this day.
“I was working in Pediatrics, and I had a nonverbal, non-communicative boy,” explains Staci. “I was taking his X-rays, and he snapped down and bit my finger. It startled me, and I kind of jumped back. And this boy grabbed my hand and looked into my eyes. And it was like our souls were hugging.”
Staci explains that she immediately apologized to the boy. As part of the X-ray process, patients need to bite down.
“I told him, ‘I’ve been doing this long enough. It’s my fault. I know you’re biting down. It’s my fault,’” says Staci. “And just like that, we’re communicating without communicating. And something that simple was one of the most gratifying experiences of my life. It was amazing and impactful and meaningful.”
Transitioning to a Dental Assisting Teaching Role
So why leave a rewarding job you love? Maybe to find another career you might love even more.
When Staci moved from Seattle to the Tri-Cities of Washington, she needed to find new work. But a seed had been planted even before she admired those dental assisting instructors from years ago. She remembered how she was always the person tagged with training new servers. And as a Dental Assistant, she often trained new hires and supervised externs. It was one of her favorite parts of the job. So, when she saw an opening for a Dental Assisting instructor at Charter College, she jumped at the opportunity.
Being a Dental Assisting Instructor at Charter College
Staci jumped into her new role at Charter College Pasco and brought all her Dental Assisting experiences with her.
“I have so many stories I tell,” says Staci. “I let them know what I learned and what mistakes I made so they don’t have to make the same ones.”
Staci hopes that her stories and experiences demonstrate the impact students can make and also show the importance of professionalism, empathy, and care. She understands that the Dental Assisting field can be difficult at times, but she tries to give her students the tools they need to successfully navigate the career for a long time to come.
Staci says she brings more than just stories to the classroom. She teaches practical skills and compassion and tries to do it all with a bit of humor. And she has also picked up a few helpful tips and tricks from her students to make her lessons more digestible and fun for anyone who takes her course. She always tries to consult her students in her lesson plans, taking advice about new ways they can learn and grasp the information they need.
“They’ve taught me so much, like how to use Kahoot for review sessions,” Staci laughs. “It’s a fun and interactive way to reinforce what they’ve learned, and it keeps everyone engaged.”
The Charter College Family
Moving to a new community, starting a new job, changing career paths—none of them come without challenges. But Staci said Charter College felt like family from the start. Everyone’s goal was to make the learning environment the best possible for each student.
“It doesn’t matter if it’s the HVAC or the medical instructors. I get ideas from all of them on how they run their classroom,” she says. “They have great strategies, and everyone just wants to help. This is the greatest team on the planet.”
At Charter, Staci found more than just a job; she found a community that felt like family. She gives high praise to the other faculty and staff members not only for the contributions they make every day to the students, but also to the collaborative and judgment-free workplace they foster.
“Everyone I work with at Charter is just so fantastic. From our front desk staff campus support, Laura Dahmen and Imogen Santano, always greeting you with a smile, to our fearless campus manager Angela McCary, I learn so much from all of them,” Staci says.
Beyond Charter College
Even after her students graduate, Staci continues to support them. She stays in touch with a handful of her former students, offering advice and encouragement as they move on with their careers.
“I love keeping those connections,” says Staci. “It’s rewarding to see them succeed and to know that I played a part in their journey.”
Do you want to learn more about Dental Assisting as a career? Check out the programs and the awesome instructors at Charter College, where educators like Staci are ready to help you succeed. Contact us at 888.200.9942.