Q: What did you do before you came to Southwest?

A: I left K-State after my senior volleyball season, and I actually took three years to travel the world and be a professional athlete. I played volleyball in Puerto Rico for a couple of seasons. I played in Switzerland and France for a short time, and I had the opportunity to train with the national team, Team USA, out in Anaheim, California. So after I finished college, I played professional, and then decided I was done with that, and that’s what kind of brought me to Southwest.

Q: What was your experience like at Kansas State?

A: It was wonderful. I chose K-State because they have a strong education program and it’s nationally recognized. I thought that, you know, if I am going to major in education then why not stay close to home and go to one of the best universities for that degree. Then aside from that, I knew I was going on a volleyball scholarship in case it was a full ride, and so I guess it was kind of a win-win situation — getting the best academic and athletic education. I love Manhattan. It’s a small, tight-knit college community with great support from the community. They really help you prepare to be a great teacher. one thing I really liked about the college of education program was that they sent us as aspiring teachers out into the schools lot, and so we didn’t just sit in the classroom and learn about being a teacher. I definitely met some my best friends there. My very best friend from the team is a first grade teacher in the Shawnee Mission District, and so volleyball and education kind of went hand-in-hand for a lot of us at K-State.

Q: What was your favorite class at K-State?

A: That’s a tough one, but I think it’s probably Adolescent Literature. I loved it because I got to revisit all of the old American classics like To Kill a Mockingbird and Catcher In the Rye and The Great Gatsby and really break those down. The professor I had was wonderful, and she talked to us about how to teach these novels to our future students. It was a fun class not only because I got to revisit those novels, but because I could start to picture how I might implement those into the classroom.

Q: What was it like being a student teacher at Southwest?

A: It was absolutely wonderful I graduated from Blue Valley West. I’m really familiar with the district, and I was excited when I found out that I was placed at Southwest. I quickly found the English department are just wonderful people, and they help me out so much. Amy Benson, my cooperating teacher, really helped me grow as a teacher. I kind of fell in love with the school and the culture and the students. Everyone was so warm and welcoming, and there wasn’t a day that went by where I went down the halls and another student or staff member wouldn’t smile or check up on me. I just felt really welcome and comfortable, and it was a really great experience. I learned a lot and grew a lot and I had a lot of fun, which is really important to me too.

Q: How was it different from getting hired full time here?

A: When you’re a full-time teacher you are responsible for all of your lesson plans, daily. You’re responsible for student growth. When you’re student-teacher, you’re just responsible for being a little bit more observant and working to better yourself and prepare yourself to become better teacher. Whereas, when you’re full-time teacher, the responsibility is to completely take over student learning and make sure that they’re on the right track to learn. I probably taught a total of two or three months while student teaching here. I co-taught a lot with Mrs. Benson and didn’t have my own classroom. Now, I’m responsible for teaching all hours of the day all days of the week and a lot more is required and my focus now is on the students. In student teaching, the focus was on still trying to figure out how to be the best teacher possible.

Q: What classes/hours do you teach?

A: I teach ELA 11 second and third hour. I teach ELA 9 fifth, sixth and seventh hour.

Q: What do you like about Southwest?

A: I really just like the culture and the people and the students. I have formed really good connections with my students — not just the ones this year, but the ones that I tossed last year I feel supported really supported by. My department, not only are they my colleague, but they’re my some of my really good friends outside of work, and I enjoy that the administration and the rest of the staff are just really friendly, kind people. Everyone here is here for the same purpose — to enhance student learning and student growth and I love everything that Southwest stands for.

Q: Why did you decide to become a full time teacher?

A: Part of it was I felt like I was at a great stopping place in my professional volleyball career, and I wanted to come home. There were a few openings in the district, and I thought it was just a great time to get started as a teacher. I wanted to become a teacher because I was inspired by my awesome high school English teachers and a couple of them still work in the district, but I had such a great experience of the Blue Valley West and with my English teachers, and they really showed me that English can be exciting and can be fun — that really stuck with me.

Q: Are you going to be coaching any sports or sponsoring any clubs/activities here?

A: Not this year and maybe not next year either. I really want to give myself time to become a rockstar teacher, and I want all my focus to be in the classroom, but I think that down the road it would make sense for me to start working with the volleyball program. I definitely definitely do want to get involved with other clubs here. I currently am the sophomore level advisory team leader, and so I’m responsible for sophomore level and their plans. I don’t get to work with students directly as much, but that’s something I’m involved in and outside the classroom.