We have quite a few teachers who teach multiple versions of a subject.
“I teach Algebra I and Geometry,” Mrs. Pokorney said.
Most of the math teachers teach more than one subject.
“I teach Algebra I, Math in Trades and College Algebra,” Mrs. Hiza said.
As you can see, some teachers teach up to three different versions of a subject. Hiza is also the teacher in charge of our STUCO (Student Council), meaning she helps pick out our spirit week themes, plan pep rallies and plan the HOCO. She has a lot to deal with.
Some teachers like teaching because they like to raise the students up from where they were, like a “low talent” place to a higher talent.
“I teach choir,” Ms. Jenkins (who is often called Ms. J by her students) said, “I enjoy seeing students start from a small talent and blossom into aspiring musicians. The looks on their faces when something clicks or there’s a part in the music where everything that we were learning makes sense. Their smiles are everything.”
Meanwhile, others just like to teach about our nation and what happened in the past, as well as including activities that represent what is being taught.
“I love telling the stories of history,” Mrs. Docket, one of the US and AP US History teachers, said, “ My favorite is engaging students in the lives of people who are not major figures historically.”
Teachers, just as students do, have favorites, as well have their least favorite parts of teaching.
“When students give up before we even get started is my least favorite,” Mrs. Pokorney, one of the math teachers, said, “Especially when it is over something new. We try to break down the material a step at a time, but because someone else said it was hard then, it must be too hard to understand.”
One of the favorite parts of teaching for many teachers is building relationships.
“I love connecting with students,” Mrs. Clynes, a biology and medical interventions teacher, said, “I also love helping them dive into the study of life, and seeing the connections made between their everyday life and the content we cover.”
As you can see, teachers don’t always love everything about teaching. There are ups and downs to teaching, just as students have ups and downs to learning. Teachers have units they don’t always look forward to, just like students do.