Spotlight on U (Teachers)

What do you teach and why did you become a teacher?

I teach English and as cheesy as it sounds, it really was a calling for me. I started out as a music major in college, but I could not stop thinking about being a teacher during the course of my studies. I changed majors from music to English during my junior year and the rest is history!

What is your favorite memory from your teaching career?

In fall 2020, I looped up with my students (went from 7th to 8th grade). Because of that, I knew over half of my students because those relationships had already been formed. It was a thousand times easier to conduct class in-person and online when the kids were already comfortable with me. They were so willing to participate in discussions and gave me so much grace when I tried to get fancy with activities like breakout rooms. They talked constantly in the chat (which I kept minimized on my screen so I could keep an eye on things), but it was always about whatever we were studying. They were also creating their own connections with one another when so many of them learned from home the entire year. That was an incredibly challenging year, but I look back on it fondly because of my students. 

What's one piece of advice you'd give to aspiring teachers?

One piece of advice I'd give to aspiring teachers is to collaborate with your co-workers or teammates. It's very easy to be isolated when you are a teacher, and having a strong network of experienced teachers with whom you can share ideas or ask for advice makes a hard job that much easier. 

Describe your most creative lesson plan. How did you make the topic fun for students?

Last spring, we were finishing up a short story unit, and the kids and I were all tired. Instead of giving them a big test on the short stories, the kids had to create a dinner party plan for a specific number of characters. They had to describe why they chose those characters, decide what dish each character would bring to the dinner party, what song they would add to a dinner party playlist, list any potential problems the character might create and who the students would seat them between.

After each group completed the required elements, I gave them a ‘wild card’ scenario and asked them to decide how their dinner party guests would react. This activity was so much fun and the kids laughed so much while they were creating their presentations. They had to present them to the class and many groups embedded snippets of the songs they chose for the playlist. They demonstrated a stronger knowledge of the short stories in this project than they ever would have by just taking a test. 

What do you do for fun in your free time (outside of teaching)?

Outside of teaching, I love to read. I am a big "Survivor" fan and my husband and I love to watch horror movies. I love to explore unfamiliar parts of Union County and Charlotte, and I LOVE to find new coffee shops to try. 

If you had a superpower, what would it be?

I would definitely choose to be able to teleport. I spend a lot of time sitting in traffic and I can't stand it! I'd love to be able to get where I want to go instantly. 

What is your favorite season and what do you enjoy doing during that season?

My favorite season is fall and I love to do all the fall things like going for walks/hikes, carving pumpkins, decorating for Halloween, going to the pumpkin patch and the apple orchard, drinking pumpkin spice lattes, and sitting out on my patio and enjoying the cool weather.  

If you could pass on any wisdom to your students, what would you share?

If I could pass on any wisdom to my students, it would be that success is not measured by just a number in the gradebook. You can make better decisions and choices when you are well-informed, so it’s important to gain the knowledge you need before someone else makes those decisions for you.