PALM COAST, Fla. — Janel Walker's mother was a teacher for 30 years, and while Walker has taken a unique path to the classroom, she is now following in her mother's footsteps by teaching, too.

Walker says her mother inspired her to teach.

"My mom always talked about how she loved teaching, and it just made me wish I was a teacher," she says. "That's why I went into the paraprofessional route because I was scared to be a teacher, but now I'm doing pretty good, I think."

Walker was nominated as an A+ Teacher by someone at her school who described her determination and persistence in working her way up to her current position as, "She's a natural."

The teacher says she started her career as a security guard at Matanzas High School. She worked as a paraprofessional and in different departments in the school.

Walker says, "I just kept being pushed on — ‘You have your degree. Why don't you go take your test?’ I went and took my test and I passed, and now I'm teaching and I enjoy it very much because this is what my family has always done is teaching. So, we were either teachers or cops, so I guess I'm in the right spot. I decided this was what I wanted to do, so why not?"

Walker says it is important to keep a sunny disposition.

"I like to enjoy the classroom. I like to make it fun," she says. "I like to do more animated things, you know. I'll be silly with the kids. We'll make jokes and laugh."

Class participation is important in her classroom, too.

Correct answers and speaking up in class are always celebrated.

The person who nominated Walker as an A+ Teacher says, "Her classroom environment is so warm, friendly and focused on learning. You would never believe she's only in her second year (of) teaching.”