Mr. Williamson
What was the thing that enticed you to become a teacher?
“I had good teachers at this high school that I really related to and was able to get to know on a more professional and personal level …when I was in college … I soon found out I was pretty good at history and it always intrigued me so I decided to become a history major. I knew I didn’t want to go into the university system … and ultimately because of the experiences I had with teachers at school, I decided that [teaching] would be a worthwhile career path. Getting to know students and helping them achieve things that they didn’t necessarily believe they could achieve, especially in my AP courses, a lot of students come in and maybe it’s their first AP experience, and helping students navigate what it means to be a good student, which I ultimately hope my AP class offers students.”
Do you have any fond memories associated with teaching your classes?
“… All my classroom experiences are unique, but just kind of remembering the students I was able to help has certainly been a fond experience, but also the students that made me laugh because of their quirkiness. I get a kick out of having students come in and really being able to express themselves how they want whenever it is appropriate, but forming those relationships with those kids, getting them to open up a little bit more maybe than what they would have in a structured academic [setting] is something I always look back on and cherish with fond memories.”
What is your least favorite part of the year?
“I just think, from an adjustment standpoint, that the beginning of the year is always kind of stressful, a lot of ninth graders come in from a variety of different schools in Shelby County, and helping them understand what they really need to be focusing on in school. That learning curve for a lot of freshmen at the beginning of the year is probably my least favorite time of the year, but it is also very rewarding, when the holiday season comes around and you see them studying for their exams, or you see them do well in their other class and finally when May turns around, they’ve adjusted quite well. That’s a process I like to see from students. I don’t think I’m doing the majority of the work there but I’m certainly trying my best to play a small part in helping that young person make a change for the better academically.”
Mrs. Young
What was the thing that enticed you to become a teacher?
“I started teaching for a program called Teach for America, and I joined that program because they offered student loan forgiveness … I was just gonna teach and get the loan forgiveness, and then it turns out I really liked teaching, so I stuck with it, so I have to admit, my entry into the profession was less than noble.”
Do you have any fond memories associated with the classes you teach?
“I have a lot of fond memories. In AP Research, for example, we have a fake marriage ceremony when students commit to their project, so that’s always a pretty memorable thing that we do. In U.S. History, we do some goofy projects where students have to pretend to ask for money for a progressive era cause, so I think those moments are always fun and memorable with students.”
What has the teaching experience been like so far?
“I really enjoy being a teacher because I like being able to come into work everyday and be goofy, I don’t think I could sit at a desk all day and work a job where I don’t get to just goof around, so I just really enjoy getting to interact with students, I enjoy getting to talk about my favorite subjects like history, so overall I think that the entire experience of being able to work with young people is pretty pleasant.”