Interviews

By Silas P.
Mrs. Williams is a fifth-grade teacher at Hampton Elementary School.

Silas P. : What is your favorite subject to teach?
Mrs. Williams: Definitely math

Silas P. : Did you always want to be a teacher?
Mrs. Williams: No. To be honest, no.

Silas P. : Why did you want to be a teacher?
Mrs. Williams: I was working as a long-term substitute when I went back to work after staying home with my children for many years. I enjoyed that job so I decided to get my masters in education.

Silas P. : What secrets are in the teacher’s lounge?
Mrs. Williams: Keurig coffee maker

Silas P. : How long have you taught at Hampton?
Mrs. Williams: This is my fifth year.

Silas P.: Do you prefer working with the class or individuals?
Mrs. Williams: I don’t have a preference

Silas P. : What grades have you taught before?
Mrs. Williams: When I was a long-term substitute, I also taught 3rd grade and 4th grade.

Silas P. : Do you prefer virtual or in person class more?
Mrs. Williams: Of course I love being in school with the students.

Silas P. : Are there any pros to online school?
Mrs. Williams: Some students are more comfortable participating in a virtual setting and have made stronger connections with the class. I find that I have more time and flexibility to work with students in small groups or individually. We have also learned about more digital tools that will continue to be helpful with in-person learning.

Silas P. : Have you ever had a different job?
Mrs. Williams: Before I went back to work, I stayed home with my children for 14 years. Before that, I worked in human resources.

Silas P. : How has your job changed?
Mrs. Williams: There have been changes to the curriculum. The biggest change has obviously been adapting to virtual learning over the past year.

Silas P. : What advice would you give to someone who wants to be a teacher?
Mrs. Williams: It is important to understand that teaching is about making connections with your students. Take the time to get to know all of your students so that you are better able to understand how they learn best.

Silas P. : What’s your favorite part of in person learning?
Mrs. Williams: Being able to see ALL of my students all of the time so that I see what their comfort level is with whatever we might be doing.

By Silas P.
Silas P. : do you prefer in person or virtual class?

Mrs. Conn: I prefer in person.

Silas P. : how long have you been a teacher?

Mrs. Conn: I have been a teacher for 37 years.

Silas P. : did you always want to be a teacher?

Mrs. Conn: I did, I really did.

Silas P. : What advice would you give to someone who wants to be a teacher?

Mrs. Conn: I would say it’s a wonderful job. But I would also say that it’s a lot of work.

Silas P. : if you weren’t a teacher, what would you be?

Mrs. Conn: I’d love to be a writer. Maybe a librarian; I love books and reading.

Silas P. : what do you do in your spare time?

Mrs. Conn: I read a lot. I swim laps. I do crossword puzzles and we like to watch a lot of movies.

Silas P. : what other grades have you taught?

Mrs. Conn: So, I did 1st and lots of years as a reading specialist.

Silas P. : do you prefer working with individuals or the whole class.

Mrs. Conn: I say the whole class.

By Penelope K.
Mrs. Fletcher is a music teacher at Hampton Elementary School.

Penelope: What do you like about virtual school?
Mrs. Fletcher: I like that I can be home with my kids and help them. With virtual music though, we can't sing or play as many instruments. I also wish more people would turn on their cameras.

Penelope: How long have you been in Hampton Elementary School?
Mrs. Fletcher: 17 years

Penelope: What do you like to do during your free time?
Mrs. Fletcher: I like to play with my kids, play games, bike, walk, play in the pool, hike, sing in the choir at church, jogging, puzzles, reading and watching movies.

Penelope: What are your favorite board and card games?
Mrs. Fletcher: Uno and trivia games.

Penelope: What do you like to do with your kids?
Mrs. Fletcher: We play football, baseball and hide in go seek.

Penelope: How is music different today to when you were a kid?
Mrs. Fletcher: When I was a kid we sat in chairs and sang from a book. I don’t remember playing instruments or moving around as much.

Penelope: If you could give advice to someone who wants to be a music teacher, what would it be?
Mrs. Fletcher: Be flexible, learn as many instruments and music as you can, always look for new ideas and always have fun with what you do.

Penelope: Do you play any instruments if so what are they?
Mrs. Fletcher: I sing. That was my primary instrument. I took piano lessons for 11 years. I play the recorder, and I play the guitar but I don’t know the guitar very well.

Penelope: Do you still play any of those instruments now?
Mrs. Fletcher: Yes, except the guitar.

Penelope: Did you teach any other grades?
Mrs. Fletcher: I did teach at a middle school.

Penelope: Did you always want to be a music teacher?
Mrs. Fletcher: I thought about being a math teacher and a nurse.

Penelope: What is your favorite movie and why?
Mrs. Fletcher: Sound of Music. It’s a musical. I got to visit where it was filmed in Austria.

Penelope: What are your other favorite musicals?
Mrs. Fletcher: I love all the Disney movies that have singing in them, Wicked and My Fair Lady.

Penelope: Did you ever sing or play in your school musicals?
Mrs. Fletcher: Yes, I was in my fifth grade musical and sang Tomorrow from Annie. I was in the chorus of Annie Get Your Gun in high school. I was the lead of Guys and Dolls. I used to sing musicals on a dinner train when I was in college. It was like dinner theatre and I did White Christmas and Oklahoma.

Penelope: Do you think Hampton will ever do a musical?
Mrs. Fletcher: I think if we were to ever do a musical we would need a lot more help. To do a musical like Annie or The Lion King we would need to have lots of other help, like more teachers and students from other grades involved. I would be willing to do it if we had more help.

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