The people who have the greatest impact on our lives aren鈥檛 always positive role models. Sometimes, those we remember most are the people who showed us who, what, or how we didn鈥檛 want to be. That was certainly true for Kerri Morris. 鈥淲hen I was seven or eight years old, the assistant in my dentist鈥檚 office was a really unpleasant, negative person,鈥� Kerri recalls. 鈥淓very time I saw her over the years, she was short-tempered and just plain mean. She never knew it, but she inspired me to become the opposite of who she was. As a little girl, I remember thinking that one day, I would become a dental assistant and treat patients with the care and kindness she never showed me.鈥� That鈥檚 exactly what happened. Kerri began working part-time in a dental office as a high school junior and loved it. For 13 years, Kerri, now 38, worked as a dental assistant, surgical assistant, and dental office manager. For the past eight years, she鈥檚 been a Dental Assisting instructor at Carrington鈥檚 Spokane, Washington campus, teaching a new generation of dental assistants that how they treat patients can be as important as the actual dental care those patients receive. 鈥淲hen my students graduate, they know everything they need to know to become capable, professional dental assistants,鈥� says Kerri. 鈥淏ut I also try to leave them with something more. I want them to understand that as they do their jobs, they will have opportunities every day to make someone鈥檚 life just a little better. My personal goal has always been to make sure that every patient leaves the office happier than when they arrived. A smile or simple word of encouragement can change someone鈥檚 day. I try to instill that value in my students because I know from experience that how we care for others really matters in the world.鈥� We talked with Kerri about the qualities she believes all good dental assistants possess, why she is drawn to teaching, and the unique perspective her own life provides when encouraging students who sometimes struggle with balancing school, work, and family life.
What do you like most about teaching?
I love seeing the transformation and growth that happens when a student develops self-confidence and realizes they鈥檙e going to succeed. Some students never doubt they鈥檙e going to make it, but many others do鈥攁t least in the beginning. Not everyone鈥檚 path to that classroom is the same. I鈥檝e had students who were homeless. I鈥檝e had students who were single moms trying to balance school with raising three kids and working full time at a fast-food restaurant. When a student who faces those kinds of challenges takes the first step toward a career, they often experience a lot of self-doubt. As an instructor, it鈥檚 such a great thing to see that insecurity transition into self-confidence. With every procedure learned, with every test passed, they believe in themselves a little more. By the end of the program, they know they鈥檙e capable of creating the career and the life they want. That鈥檚 an amazing thing to witness.
Tell me about the Dental Assisting program鈥攚hat do students learn and how long does it take before they鈥檙e ready to work as dental assistants?
I love the structure and efficiency of our Dental Assisting program. It鈥檚 a 36-week program with five six-week terms, followed by a six-week externship. Every six weeks, a new term with a new group of students begins, so there鈥檚 always a sense of energy and enthusiasm on campus. Last week, a new class of 17 students started. Students are on campus two days a week for lab classes and attend online lectures twice a week. When a student graduates from our program, they鈥檙e ready to work with dentists, dental hygienists, and office staff and to play an important role in helping a dental office operate efficiently. Their responsibilities can vary from one office to another, but dental assistants typically work directly alongside dentists, handing them instruments during procedures, keeping patients鈥� mouths dry using suction hoses, and processing x-rays. Other duties can include sterilizing dental equipment, preparing patients and work areas for treatments and procedures, and scheduling patient appointments. Dental offices are typically a fast-paced environment, and no two days are ever quite the same.
Most of your students have other responsibilities besides going to school. Many have full-time jobs and kids. How do you support them in maintaining their focus and balance when they鈥檙e doing so much?
I know what it feels like to have too much to do and not enough hours in the day. It鈥檚 almost second nature to me. My husband and I have three sons鈥攁ges 10, 7, and 2. We homeschool the older two boys. I鈥檓 also five classes away from completing my bachelor鈥檚 degree in Psychology at Washington State University, so I know what being busy feels like. We鈥檙e also a super active family. We love kayaking, boating, and skiing, and the boys play soccer and baseball. Between my home life, teaching full-time, and attending classes, it鈥檚 a lot. But I love a challenge and love being busy. I am very driven by nature, so I鈥檓 always doing or learning something. I love technology and am constantly learning new tech skills that I can apply in the classroom and around campus. 听
In your opinion, what kind of people make good dental assistants? What qualities do they tend to possess鈥攁nd how long does it take to know if someone has them?
I can often tell by the end of my first class who鈥檚 going to excel. You can sense it. In my experience, the students who are most successful in becoming great dental assistants are enthusiastic, eager to learn, and engaged. They like people. They ask questions. They鈥檙e compassionate. They鈥檙e adaptable, flexible, and are critical thinkers. They also tend to have strong time management and organizational skills. If someone is eager and open and willing to learn, we can make them a good dental assistant. If they possess some or most of the traits I鈥檝e just described, it makes it all that much easier.
What would you tell someone who鈥檚 considering signing up for the Dental Assisting program?
I鈥檇 ask them one question: What鈥檚 your goal and what鈥檚 the most direct path toward achieving it? At Carrington, we鈥檙e focused on training and preparing students for specific positions in the workplace. Once you鈥檙e working in your chosen field and getting paid while gaining real-life experience, you always have the option to continue your education and take your next step. Breaking into your chosen field is often the tough part, and Carrington helps students make that happen.
