Q: What are your favorite aspects of teaching?

A: Making an impact, having fun? We all have to have fun in life.

Q: Why would you say having fun is the best part? 

A: Because you need fun in your life. I enjoy my job. I wake up every morning, happy to go to work. 

Q: Have you always wanted to teach?

A: Yes. I went to Spring view, and I had an amazing history teacher in eighth grade, and he’s the one that kind of helped me embrace history.

Q: What inspired you to start teaching?

A: It was an experience in school for me. It was also traveling. My parents took us traveling when we were really, really young to a lot of places in Europe and in the world and stuff. And then it was just so that, seeing it, living up, walking it, being around his historical places and things and then just having teachers that help you embrace it and have fun, you know? 

Q: Is it difficult to teach multiple grades?

A: Well, it’s always difficult to teach, right? But multiple grades having to know the subject matter, you have different levels of maturity. Sometimes it is a little tough, though.

Q: Do you like teaching geography or world history more?
A: That’s a tough question. I kind of like world history only because a lot of the places that I teach about, I’ve been to; it kind of helps to have that experience, so I can show pictures of my travels and stuff.

Q: What obstacles have you faced on the way?

A: Obstacles that are faced, well, you know, being a teacher is not exactly the best paying job, I guess the obstacles are just kind of financially, you know, kind of becoming independent and being my own person, but teaching wise, not much. Honestly, I struggled in school, I guess maybe when I was getting my credential, I struggled a little bit, and I think that might be a good obstacle that I overcame the most.

Q: What keeps you motivated every day?

A: Knowing that some people, some students, I’m gonna be the one adult that’s supportive or the one adult that they know they can have fun with, or, you know, so it’s just doing what I do.

Q: Do you ever think about other jobs or subjects you would like to teach?

A: No, not at all.

Q: How do you deal with difficult students?

A: I have major reactions that I shouldn’t have, so I’m trying to change. I just pull the student, and take them outside and talk, why, what, how?

Q: Where do you see yourself after you retire?

A: Scotland. moving out of the United States, going somewhere else, and just relaxing. Honestly, probably coaching.

by LIAM COLEY, KYLEE CRAWFORD, MANDY ECKHOFF & BROOKLYN EASTIN