While there are logistical steps to becoming a teacher, many at SCHS think the journey is more than completing a few rigorous steps. They believe deciding one’s career also requires passion and often an emotional encounter to cement one’s decision.
English teacher Michelle Kennison realized she wanted to be a teacher because of her mother. Kennison understood the inner workings of a classroom from an early age after seeing her mother’s fourth-grade classroom.
“I was just laid off, and I hadn’t gotten hired anywhere else. She (her mother) was like, ‘You thought about going into teaching? How about you just come with me to work and hang out for the day and teach the kids a lesson,’” Kennison said. “After that day of being in my mom’s classroom, I was like, ‘Yep this is it. I’m going to figure this out and go into teaching.’”
Biology student teacher Ivana Hsiao’s mother was a preschool teacher in Taiwan before her family immigrated to the U.S. Small opportunities like trips and summer camps in addition to her mother’s teaching background helped Hsiao realize her passion.
“One summer I went to Taiwan to do this English teaching program and that was also what solidified me wanting to teach in the future,” Hsiao said. “I was breaking out of my comfort zone to teach English in a place where I’m more unfamiliar.”
Kennison started her career as a receptionist for an insurance company. Teaching was not in her initial plan, but she realized that no other job is as fulfilling. Kennison is thankful for the flexibility and fun that teaching offers, which she feels she cannot get with any other job.
“It (teaching) was so nice because I didn’t have a boss looking over my shoulder all day long,” Kennison said. “I didn’t have coworkers asking me these menial questions.”
English and drama teacher Erin Southard believes that while teaching is enjoyable, it also has its fair share of highs and lows.
“There are times where you feel like you’re behind constantly, but you’ll hit your stride, and you’ll feel more confident,” Southard said. “Just know that you kind of have to push through the hard stuff to get through the moments that make it worth it.”
Southard acknowledged that socializing with students is an essential part of the job, just as important as creating engaging class activities. She thinks that ensuring students are cared for and believed in is vital.
“I think being a teacher who has confidence in their students (and) sees the hope for their future is incredibly important because when you can’t see that for yourself, having someone else there to see that for you is really helpful,” Southard said.
Hsiao has learned that making students feel seen is also a big part of teaching. In her personal experience, Hsiao went to a high school where she felt like she was nothing but a grade-turning machine. Now, she makes it her mission for students to feel heard in the classroom.
“I just really like each ‘aha’ moment a student has. It’s really special to me seeing students have their various moments and finally understanding the concept,” Hsiao said. “A student gaining confidence to speak in class or to ask a question, those are moments that are special to me.”
Science teacher Eric Wozadlo hopes to impact his students’ learning journeys and set them up for future success while encouraging them to think for themselves.
“(It’s important) to care about the study of life and biology but also just to really care about learning and the want to keep learning and being independent thinkers, critical thinkers,” Wozadlo said.
Other teachers like Kennison want to leave students with a specific feeling after high school. She wishes to impact students positively and hope they remember the good times in her class.
“I want my students to be good communicators, but I also want them to be the class they look at and say, ‘That was fun. That was a good experience,’” Kennison said. “Maybe they don’t remember exactly what was fun or good about it, but that they came to class and it was a good feeling.”