Sarah Goodman: English

I did my student teaching here, and I’d requested to teach here because I love the cluster system and the creativity within each department. In high school, I got really into the idea of teaching because I love reading and writing. I love this age group; I think it’s a really pivotal point where people are starting to take some control over how they want to carry themselves in the world, and to be able to witness that and be a part of it is a privilege and also a lot of fun. I love the way students are learning to write in a more sophisticated manner. Books are our greatest teachers, as cheesy as that sounds. They’re just people’s stories, and a way to learn about different experiences and apply those lessons to the real world. I want students to always feel like they can come to me if they’re struggling with something. I know there’s the perception that we get a thrill out of challenging someone to the point where they can’t do what we’re asking of them and that’s not the truth. We’re not just dealing with books or writing – we’re dealing with actual students who have complex histories.