Ormond Beach, Fla. — For Crystal Mills, teaching children has been her life's work. Mills teaches first graders at Pathways Elementary School in Ormond Beach.

When Crystal Mills was a teenager working at a daycare she discovered children seemed to gravitate towards her and the feeling has always been mutual.

Spectrum News 13 recently stopped by her classroom and saw her students were engaged and attentive. One student even gave her a big hug during the lesson.

Mills has all types of teaching techniques designed to keep learning fun for her students.

She says, "So there's always some dancing going on. There's some games going on. So even while we're dancing, singing, playing games. We're still learning."

Learning goes both ways in her class too.

"Instead of just hearing me stand up and talk all day long. I want to get them involved and so that helps to keep them engaged and it makes them responsible for their own learning as well," she adds.

Mills enjoys building a strong foundation for her lifelong learners.

"What I really instill in my students is to never give up. If something is hard keep trying," she says, adding, "I love teaching and making a difference and they make a difference in my life as well."