Ms. Given Interview

In 2025, West Chester East made a new addition to the English department by hiring Ms. Givens. I set out to learn more about one of the East staff's newest members.

• Question 1: Where did you get your degree? And what is your degree in?

Answer: My undergraduate degree is in secondary english education and that’s from West Chester University. Then I have a Masters degree in special education also from West Chester University. 

• Question 2: What is your career experience prior to West Chester East? 

Answer: I started in Reading PA where I had a mix of English classes–grades ten through twelve. I was there for ten years. For the last five years prior to coming to East, I was at Great Valley, and I had students in grades nine through twelve. 

• Question 3: What classes do you teach at East?

Answer: I teach accelerated honors english nine, honors english eleven, and honors english twelve. 

• Question 4: What is your favorite curriculum to teach?

Answer: Personally, my favorite is eleventh grade, because that is American literature, which is something that I have taught every year and it has some of my favorite texts in it. 

• Question 5: How do you feel about teaching a wide range of grade levels?

Answer: I mean I like it. I like not being tied to just one grade. I like seeing their growth. I like when I have students for multiple years. I think teaching multiple grade levels allows me to know a bigger portion of the student body and also gives me a unique perspective to see their growth from grade to grade. 

• Question 6: What do you feel is crucial for your students to know about you? 

Answer: Something I feel that is crucial for my students to know about me is that I care. I truly believe that no matter where any kid is in their educational journey, that they can be successful. Whatever it is that they want for themselves– in high school, after high 

school, in life– I want to help them achieve it. 

• Question 7: What are your opinions on the East community and staff? 

Answer: I love it, so far the kids have been great, and super nice and helpful. Same thing with the staff. The amount of staff that help you here is something that I’ve never experienced; it’s truly different?

• Question 8: What are you most excited about and looking forward to during your time here at East?

Answer: I think just all the student activities. Games, pep rallies, and just becoming more a part of the culture. 

• Question 9: Why did you become a teacher? And why did you come to the East? 

Answer: I never wanted to be anything other than a teacher, and I always loved English, reading, and writing. It just seemed like a natural fit. As for coming to West Chester East, I wanted a change of pace and took the leap. I’m glad I did.  

• Question 10: What's your favorite book? And who’s your favorite author?

Answer: That’s a hard question. I’m going to have to say two favorite books, The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver and The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende. My favorite author is tough and something I don’t think I can answer because there’s just so many options to choose from. 

Thank you to Ms. Givens for agreeing to do this interview!