PALM COAST, Fla. — A+ Teacher Karen Gargon was inspired to teach after her children’s struggles in school and her curiosity about the school system.

Gargon mixes old school teaching strategies with new ones at Belle Terre Elementary School.

She has taught math for 15 years and admits it was not her favorite subject in school.

“In high school, it was not my favorite, but once I got to college, I was like, ‘Oh okay. I can do this',” she said.

She teaches her students how to use the box method to master two-digit multiplication. She said it is a great way to help students learn how to multiply digits quickly.

However, it was her children who inspired her to teach.

“As they were in school, they had some struggles, and I wanted to learn more about what was going on in the school system,” she explained.

Teaching, she said, was a perfect fit.

“My daughter is a teacher now. My son is in college, so it worked out for the best,” she said.

While her children are adults now, it’s her students that keep her in the classroom.

“I think the kids are the main reason. Building relationships with them and everything has been so important to me. You’ve probably heard this a million times when the light bulb goes off, and all your hard work pays off when that happens,” she expressed.