From Shaping Buildings to Shaping Hearts

Mrs. Gordon is a first year teacher having just completed her student teaching last year. Mrs. Gordon drives over an hour to LHS every morning proving just how dedicated she is to her LHS students. Mrs. Gordon worked in a daycare “before being a teacher, so it wasn't that difficult to adjust” to her new career.

Interestingly, teaching was not Mrs. Gordon’s original career path. “Originally, I wanted to be an Architect, but I realized I am too social to work in isolation. The classroom surrounded by students is where I want to be,” Mrs. Gordon said. She knew she “didn’t want to sit behind a desk for the rest of my life. I wanted to have an impact on people’s lives.”

Working at the daycare might have prepared her for teaching, but high school is a very different environment. She worked at the daycare for 4 and a half years, and then had her youngest child. Mrs. Gordon explained how it was different from the preschool setting and she said, “There are definitely some differences, the biggest one being that high schoolers can do things themselves. Preschoolers basically rely on the teachers for everything. You always are hearing, ´Mrs. Gordon, can you help me fix my pencil´ or ´Can you hand me a tissue, Mrs. Gordon?´ and high schoolers are a little more independent.¨

The preschoolers might be less dependent, but are they easier to teach? ¨Preschoolers, you had to teach them basics. High Schoolers should know the basics, so you really just have to focus on the material you want to teach. You do not have to tell them how to write the paper or you don't have to tell them what to write about,¨ Mrs. Gordon said.

Mrs. Gordon teaches two subjects here at our school, Government and Sociology/Psychology. Tru Daniels is a student in Gordons Government class. Her thoughts on Mrs. Gordon so far are, ¨I like her. She has a good sense of humor and can always joke around. While being able to joke around with us, she also teaches us what we need to know for the class.¨