For 40 years, Ray Jean Landis has been a steady, compassionate presence in the lives of local students. A dedicated special education resource teacher at Prescott South Elementary, Landis began her teaching career in 1986, but her commitment to serving children stretches even farther back.

What keeps an educator coming back year after year for four decades? For Landis, the answer is simple: the students, the supportive culture at her school, and a genuine love for the work.

“I love the kiddos, and I love my administrators here at Prescott,” Landis shared. “It’s a busy school to work at; there are lots of things going on, but I love that challenge, and I love the staff. We have a good relationship."

In her role at Prescott South, Landis works primarily with K–2 special education resource students, collaborating closely with her team to meet students right where they are. Her days are filled with small-group interactions, test preparation, and celebrated breakthroughs—along with the daily soft skills that help young learners thrive.

Whether it's helping a student calm down after a tough morning bus ride or coordinating with colleagues to make sure a child gets a hot breakfast, Landis views basic needs and emotional well-being as essential foundations for academic growth.

Her dedication to youth extends well beyond the school calendar. Long before she took her first teaching job, Landis began volunteering at Lighthouse Christian Camp in 1981—a tradition sparked when her youth group leader, Julia Shelley Bowman, recruited her to help sign up local children for summer camp.

“We would hit the housing projects and just knock on doors,” Landis recalled. “‘We got a bus that’s going to be leaving here in about 30 minutes, would your child like to go to Lighthouse Camp?' we would ask. We’d keep going to different places till we got so that we could have all of those kids go.”

Decades later, Landis continues to support the camp—driving buses, working in the kitchen, and connecting new generations of families to the program.

For Landis, the true reward of her decades of service shows up in the lasting connections she has built across the community. Former students regularly reach out to her as adults, eager to send their own children to camp or simply express their gratitude.

When asked how long she plans to remain in the classroom, Landis smiled warmly:

“As long as I still love the kids... as long as I still love the interactions with the kids and can see some of those differences, it makes it worthwhile.”

Her final piece of advice for the community is a simple, heartfelt reflection of how she lives every day. “Everybody help somebody else out. If you see somebody struggling, be kind. Share a smile, try to brighten their day.”

You can check out the complete interview with RaeJean Landis on the PCSS Facebook page or on the PCSS YouTube channel.