Stephanie's Shop

I've been a public school teacher in Georgia for almost 14 years teaching 9th-12th grade.

There is definite structure to my lessons, but I always bear in mind that each class is very different from the others I teach. What works in first period may not work in fourth period, so I can easily adapt and adjust as needed. Some classes need more rigid discipline than others, so I conduct each class according to its climate. I'm flexible and accomodating when needed, and I am always open to suggestions from my students about what works in class and what doesn't. It's not unusual for me to teach a lesson in the morning, discover a better method, and then alter it for the afternoon classes. Student feedback is very important to me, as well as establishing positive, nurturing relationships that hopefully encourage respect and trust among my students.

I was awarded Teacher of the Year for my county in the early part of 2000, and have received Teacher of the Month on several occasions.

I was a public school student my entire academic career and graduated from a vocational high school in Georgia in 1986. After high school, I enrolled in college and attended classes for a year. After my freshman year, I opted to work in order to help with bills at home, and then later returned to school and graduated with a degree in English from the State University of West Georgia. I obtained my master's degree in 2008 from Troy University.

My husband is also an educator in the same school system as I; he teaches sophomore World History, so we share many of the same students. I have twins--a boy and a girl--who will be starting first grade (yikes!) in the fall. I enjoy reading, writing, music and theater and have performed on the stage intermittently since I was in high school. My all-time favorite novel is The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, so teaching it is such an absolute joy for me to be able to share it with my students.