Time is an endless construct, taking place worldwide and working in mysterious ways. Getting excited for big events in time is natural, especially when the end of school is around the corner and the preparations for summer begin.
The school days at Newton High School take up a lot of time for students, teachers and faculty. However, new teachers at NHS can now reflect on their experiences from this school year.
“This is my first year in Newton and it was the beginning of the year. From when I first started here, I have been much more comfortable, and it is a great school and has been really welcoming,” social studies teacher William Morris said.
With the anticipation for summer building every day, the beginning of the next school year seems far away, but the goals are already apparent to teachers — as well as the positive changes that have been made this year.
“My goal for next year is to take all that I have learned from this year as far as what content and make it more personal and my own. I had to learn how to grade [because] I used to be a music teacher, so there was not much grading, so I have had to change the way I think in terms of the outside grading,” English teacher Allison Entz said.
Teachers experience a lot of challenges along the way, oftentimes more frequently with new teachers.
“The hardest part of teaching is not being able to play Clash of Clans or Clash Royale all the time. I want to play it, but I can not because I have to teach,” business teacher Andrew Tovar said.
Newer teachers overcome challenges by taking advantage of the resources available to help them reach their fullest potential, which often means talking to veteran teachers.
“I have relied heavily on my other colleagues, especially those of AG Academy. Everyone in the social studies department has been really welcoming and answered every question I have had and have even dropped what they were doing to make sure I had what I needed,” Morris said.
The challenges help teachers grow and learn from their mistakes and by the end of the year, teachers see themselves differently from when they first started.
“I expect to see myself excited for the next year, sad to see my students go on to other classes [because] I will probably not see these students in my classes [again], but I am going to be excited for a new year to look forward to,” math teacher Logan Calder said.
With the school year ending soon, new teachers will no longer be recognized as ‘new’ — they will now be part of the veteran teachers here at NHS, showing and helping students grow, which means being a positive role model in their lives.
“Making sure I don’t let my students down. Making sure I wake up every day and give 100%. I was told that leaders don’t get to have bad days and teachers are leaders,” Morris said.
