• What has been your favorite aspect or moment of this year?

Easily the homecoming pep assembly. It was incredible to see all of my students shining in a way that I am not able to see in the classroom.  I am amazed by the talents of my students and I was overwhelmed by the school spirit.    

• What were you most nervous about when coming to MHS that you realized was no big deal?

I think every teacher (okay, maybe just me) has this moment right before the school year starts where I feel like over the summer I have forgotten how to teach.  I know this sounds crazy, but when you get out of the routine and think about the length of classes and the number of students and all of the content, you wonder how you ever did it.  I would say that was exponentially increased this fall because of being at a new school.  I didn’t need to worry about any of it; I was able to teach–as far as I know–and being somewhere new just made it more interesting for someone who has being teaching for 15 years.

• Who are some great individuals {staff members} you have had the privilege to meet this year?

My entire department is incredible.  I feel very lucky to be working with teachers who are as passionate as I am about teaching, student learning, and the craft of this profession.  I also have been very impressed with all of our building administrators; they have made this year great for me as well.

• What do you think is the funniest joke you and Mr. Passler have included in a presentation?

First of all, everything that Mr. Passler says is funny.  I don’t even try to be as funny as him; the effort would be futile. 

• Have you had a hectic day that got better?

This is every day.

• Have you enjoyed the MHS atmosphere? How did it make you feel at first? Now?

I love it.  My students are overwhelmingly the friendliest and most polite students I have worked with in my career.  I am astounded daily by my students’ acts of kindness towards one-another, their dedication to their academics, and their incredible gifts outside of the classroom.  At first I found their overt kindness creepy (seriously, how many kids do you need to “bless you” when you sneeze), but now I realize this is just how these kids are, and that is one of my favorite things about them.

• What was the best part of the classroom you were given? How did you make it yours?

I am so excited that I have my OWN classroom.  At my previous school we were so pressed for space we shared classrooms and I had to spend my prep at a table in the library.  I am so glad to have a place to work with my students and meet with colleagues that is mine.

• What will you miss most about the students you have meet this year?

This is a really bittersweet time for me every year.  I have grown so attached to all of my students; I spend so much of my day with them, they become my kids.  I find myself selfishly wishing they would all fail so we could do it again.  Don’t worry, I won’t fail all of you, but I have grown quiet attached.

• What is a prediction you have for the upcoming school year?

Probably saying more bizarre things that out of context sound very odd.  I would predict more stories about my cat.  Obviously I predict another great year with a new group of excellent students.

• What is different about MHS compared to where you have worked in the past?

MHS is very similar to my teaching job at Warren in Gurnee, IL.  However, the 3 minutes commute here beats the 55 minute commute there!

• What has been your favorite unit of study in your English 11 and Accelerated English 10 classes?

This is tough, I have a tendency to love everything.  I would definitely say that my favorite unit for Accelerated is our communications and Julius Caesar unit; it reminds me of teaching speech at previous schools and I have taught Caesar for almost every year I have been a teacher.  For English 11 I would have to say that it is a toss up between “The Minister’s Black Veil” and its pairing it with The Standford Prison Experience, or using our TED Talk on Real Courage during the revolutionary period.

• What has been the most rewarding part of this year?

Watching my students grow has been very rewarding, but I have especially enjoyed the growth of my students’ writing in my sophomore class (they are amazing) and seeing my juniors growth and improvement on the ACT (their victories are mine too).

• Have you had an experience this year that will turn into a story for next year’s students to hear?

MANY.  You will just have to show up to class next year to hear it.