SPENCER, Mass. — Inside Ashley Leveillee's classroom, students aren’t solving math problems or performing science experiments; they’re taught the lessons of life.

“When they ask me what I teach, I say I teach about relationships,” Leveillee said.

The David Prouty High School teacher is preparing her class to be the next generation of caretakers.

“I always tell my students we don’t exist in a vacuum; we all as human beings rely on other people in society,” she said.

She’s been in the role for three years now, but teaching teens how to care for an infant as an early education and care teacher wasn’t always in her plan. After years of working with children, she took a teaching job in a very familiar building.

“I graduated from here the year my current juniors were born,” she said. “When the position became available, I jumped at the opportunity.”

Since then, she’s learned her experience with toddlers makes her a better mentor and teacher.

“It’s hard. It takes a lot of time outside the classroom. It takes energy and emotion that I certainly didn’t expect,” Leveillee said. “I was very involved working with young students, but even more involved with high schoolers.”

Of course, there are days that are harder than others, but she believes that like she teaches her students, the right skills and mindset will help herthrough it.

“Those hard days do inform relationship building," Leveillee said. "Those moments where a student is struggling, that offers an opportunity to connect with them and it informs your ability to get the information to them.”

She said she’s also learned how rewarding the job can be and how it’s just as much about caring for others as it is about teaching.

“Don’t take for granted that it’s just a job," Leveillee said, "because it’s not. It’s so much more for so many of us.”

She added it’s a profession full of care and compassion, and she hopes it’s her students who leave class and go on to make the world a better place.

“Someone who can work with others, who can help meet needs and make people feel seen and heard,” Leveillee said. “I hope my students leave David Prouty and are those people.”