Molly King, the new special education teacher for fourth through sixth grades at Boothbay Region Elementary School, didn’t have to search far for her career path.

It was right there in the house where she grew up in Windsor.

“My mom is a special education teacher,” King said during a break in her classroom schedule. “For a long time, I didn’t want to teach. But then I helped out in her classroom, and I really loved it.”

Jane King, who works at Windsor Elementary School, picked up on her daughter’s aptitude right away.

“One of my ed techs that I shared with the life skills program left with six weeks left in the year,” Jane recalled. “Molly filled that position. Flexibility and a sense of calmness were noticed right away. She was a go-with-the-flow kind of person, which is essential in special ed. The students really took to her, and it was obvious that she really liked and cared about them.”

Molly King carried a double major of special education and creative writing at the University of Maine Farmington, graduating in 2016. She spent two years teaching special education at the middle school level in Belfast before taking the job here. Calling the kids the best part of the job, she said she thrives on helping students with varying levels of disability reach their potential.

“I try to be open. I say, ‘This is why you’re here’ and ‘This is what your IEP (Individualized Education Program) says.’ I want them to understand that being in special education doesn’t mean they won’t go to college or won’t get a job. They’re like everyone else. Their path is just different.”

King’s mother has seen those kinds of results. Asked what her daughter might someday hear from former students, Jane said, “I can only share what has happened to me. I have a sixth-grade student now whose father was also my student many years ago. He has told me that I am the reason he is where he is today. He thought he was stupid and wouldn't amount to much, but because of my influence, and my ed techs', he's now a master plumber.”

Among the approaches Molly King takes in her classroom is King Kash, a program that rewards fulfillment of responsibilities with incentives students can buy with the “kash” they’ve earned. Rewards include such things as gum, snacks, free time and movies.

She also emphasizes getting to know students’ home situations. “Building a relationship with parents is so important. They know their kid the best, and that helps me do the best job I can.”

King acknowledged she’s absorbed a lot of change this year — new school, new age group, new town. It’s all come together well, she said.

“You get to see them grow up in this age group,” she said. “They’re young, but they’re old enough to have a conversation. You see the growth.”