All about Dr Therasa Jackson’s experience as a teacher.
Dr. Theresa Jackson is an outstanding Financial Literacy teacher here at Northern High School. She has been a teacher for many years now and is familiar with both how it is on the job and student behavior. Dr. Jackson was asked a series of questions about her experiences as a teacher and the ups and downs that one should expect while teaching.
Q: How do you like working this job?
A: I do, I enjoy teaching. I guess that’s why I’m still here. I mean, it has its challenges sometimes, but for the most part I do enjoy it… It’s just teaching and helping students and seeing that growth as well.
Q: How do you like teaching your students?
A: The students range, you know. They vary for the most part. I think Northern has some very good students. You will have your outliers… your squirrely ones, especially when they come in new, the freshmen. But they eventually get with the program. Most of them do, and it works out.
Q: What was one thing that you loved when starting your job?
A: Let’s see… when I first started teaching, one thing that I loved [was] just being able to… shape young people’s minds. Just like they relied on me and I was able to influence most of them.
Q: What was one thing that you hated when starting your job?
A: The challenge is always the paperwork, sometimes the parents. But it’s like… trying to be in a box, and you have a subject and you have to do it. You know the way you want to do things, but either your supervisor or the board wants you to do it [differently]. But sometimes, as you get more senior, you have leeway to [alter your teaching to] fit the students.
Q: Did you look to anyone for guidance when you first started out?
A: I did. My mother-in-law taught for… many, many years. [She taught] elementary school even… though that was definitely not on my radar to teach people of that level. I just, you know, kind of had mentors. You look for teachers who have been there a while and who actually enjoy what they do… and get feedback from them.
Q: How was teaching when you first started compared to how it is now?
A: Absolutely, there is a difference. I guess because of what the students have now, especially electronics. Electronics, that’s just, that’s a whole different game and what it does is that our teaching competes with the entertainment. It makes it harder because… you know, we just can’t compete sometimes with that and with all the graphics and everything else. So that makes it [harder], and I think students are more… let’s see how can I put that… not disrespectful, but… they have a lot more to say than they used to, especially with adults. I think they get that from home. And then when… you as a teacher… don’t allow your kids to do certain things, that’s where conflict comes into play—but you know that’s not going to happen in my class.
Q: How is it like having to manage clubs as well as teaching?
A: Oh, let me tell you, it’s a lot because I do several. But I enjoy it because it keeps me busy. It keeps me young with the folks—you know, I’m in my 60s, so you know I’m trying to keep up with the young people. But it is… rewarding, but it is a lot.
Q: What advice would you give to future teachers?
A: Um… find what works for you. Find a mentor who’s been there a while so you can see what worked for them. Everything that worked for them will not work for you. You have to find your own space and then you once you do that, then you work with that. Periodically, that will change… as new students come in… you’re going to have to tailor your teaching style to what those students need. So, be willing to be flexible. Flexibility is the key.