Within the walls of Northview High School exist a teacher lifting her coworkers and students up, like a stepping stone to their full potential. Educator Audra Whetstone inspires both students and peers through sharing her passion for language arts.
English teacher Audra Whetstone was born in a small town called Six Lakes and graduated from Montabella High school. Attending Alma College she then moved to Grand Rapids in 2007 to teach grades nine through 12. This is her 12th year at the high school. She has taught many literary courses throughout her career such as English nine, 10 and 11, College Writing, Practical Writing and Junior Gateways. She is currently focused on teaching Advanced Placement (AP) Language and Composition and AP Literature. Whetstone has been married to her husband Casey for almost 15 years with two children, Alya and Caden.
Throughout her time at the high school, she has evolved into a role model. Recently, she even earned the title of the English head of department.
“When Doctor Steelman retired, it [the position as head of English department] just kind of fell into my lap and I’m happy to be here,” Whetstone said. “We are the intercept between all of our English teachers, the department, [principal] Mr. Thomas and administration. He [Thomas] will come to us with any updates, reports or ask if there’s any issues, whether it’s grading, discipline or credit recovery stuff.”
Being head of the English department also brings fun trips and events which Whetstone can attend and share experiences with others around the country that love writing and reading as much as she does. While attending these events, Whetstone and her fellow teachers communicate and come to an agreement on changes desired for the years of teaching ahead of them and the best ways in which a love for English can be spread around the country.
“We [head of English departments from other schools] got to present at the National Conference in Seattle in July and then we also were able to present the MCTE, Michigan Council Teachers English, in October which was in Lansing,” Whetstone said. “Then NCTE, National Council Teachers of English, in Columbus, Ohio in November.
Whetstone’s love for her students makes for tight connections and a solid foundation to lean on her for help. Senior Sierra Stoy took three classes with Whetstone consisting of English nine, AP Language and AP Literature. She loves the energy Whetstone brings to the classroom. When students are in a class in which the subject can be hard, the teacher’s energy can carry significant weight within engaging the students attention.
“She [Whetstone ] is very energetic and loves to talk, that’s one thing I like because some [teachers] don’t like to talk,” Stoy said. “She tries to make it interesting.”
Whetstone not only motivates her students, but her colleagues as well. Coworker and fellow English teacher Anna Reynolds has also found comfort in Whetstone while transitioning from student teaching to her first formal year in the classroom. She enjoyed working arm-in-arm with Whetstone and now considers her a close friend.
“It was nice to have a female mentor to show me the ropes [in] teaching. and English is a subject that I noticed is more emotional, it is more personal,” Reynolds said.
Being able to learn from Whetstone has helped Reynolds to become the best teacher she can be. Reynolds never stops learning from her mentor.
“I think the biggest thing that she’s taught me is flexibility and the importance of just going with the flow,” Reynolds said. “A lot of my personality tends to be more structured and rigid. She definitely taught me to embrace that flexibility and adaptability,[and] not get too hung up on one particular thing and it’s just about adjusting as you go and not setting expectations.”
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