So to start off, how long have you been a member of the Keystone community?
This is actually my third year. This is my first full year, which makes me sad, but I have enjoyed every minute. And before that I was part of the Keystone community because I would sub, and I also taught this summer writing bookshop for I think five years. So I’ve been involved with [Keystone] for a long time.
What classes do you teach and what classes did you teach in the past?
Before I took a full time position teaching ninth grade and 11th grade AP English, I taught the seventh grade research class. I taught middle school creative writing, I taught upper school creative writing, and I taught an eighth grade leadership class, and I had an advisory.
What would you say is your most favorite part about Keystone?
Oh, am I going to get in trouble saying this? I love the students, but I feel really lucky teaching full-time this year–maybe this made my decision to retire a little easier–that I have retired with two really great classes. I really, really have an affinity for the junior class and I love my freshmen because I’ve been with them since seventh grade. So I had them in the seventh grade, I had them in the eighth grade, and now I have them in the ninth grade. So I feel like this is the best book end to my career. And so, I couldn’t go out on a better note.
On that note, what is the thing that you’re most going to miss about working here?
The students. Most definitely. One of the things I love about working at Keystone [is that] I love teaching. I feel so grateful that I got to teach at the end of my career since I served so long in an administrative position, um I became a teacher because I wanted to be a teacher since I was two. And I’m happy that I book ended my career and I could lead teaching but I’m gonna miss the students, I’m gonna miss their desire to learn, their want to learn, their quench for learning. It makes teaching so much easier. I don’t have to deal with all the other stuff, so to speak, I don’t try to be negative. I’m just trying to be a realist. But I really enjoy teaching kids who want to learn. Students. I shouldn’t call you all kids.
What do you look most forward to once you retire and get time to yourself?
It has been a very hard decision. I think I am gonna look forward to spending more time with my family. I feel like my husband has given up a lot for me and it’s my turn. I’m gonna look forward to being with him. I am looking forward to spending every minute I can with him and spending time with my grandkids and my daughter’s getting married, and so I will be planning a wedding this year, so lots of things.
And before we end this interview, for the students who will come after you or the teacher who comes after you, what is one word of advice that you would give them?
Be prepared, always be on your toes, and enjoy every minute of every single day.
To pay homage to the word of the day, what is your favorite word?
My favorite word was just the other day. I gosh, I told you what my favorite word of the day was. Druthers! I love it because I love the whole idea around choice, because my whole idea is around choice and letting people choose, letting students choose, letting students be in charge of their own learning, not get bogged down in the grading in the grades of it, but the joy of learning.
Thank you!
You’re welcome.