The featured image in this article won an honorable mention in the 2023 Michigan Interscholastic Press Association spring awards ceremony.
Being a new teacher can be intimidating. Going to a different school and meeting all new students is terrifying for anybody, especially for a teacher that hasn’t taught in a classroom before. For Anna Reynolds, a new face in the english department, novelty isn’t frightening.
While working at the high school, Reynolds has always desired to be a full time teacher, but it has taken almost two and a half years to achieve this job title. To start her journey at the high school, she student-taught with english teacher Audra Whetstone for half a year and history teacher Mark Spetoskey.
The next year, 2021-22, she had a multitude of job titles. Reynolds was hired as a member of campus security, but in October, she was switched to the designated high school floating substitute. This means she filled in for any classroom that did not have a teacher for a short period of time.
Still, the switches weren’t over, because in February, her title changed to a long term substitute for Brian Schroeder’s Advanced Placement (AP) Seminar.
“I liked [each job] for different reasons,” Reynolds said. “I liked doing campus supervising because I got to meet a lot of different people, but I liked the floating sub because it was something different everyday. If I wasn’t needed as a sub, I was helping out Ms. [Julia] Haveman in academic support so I got to work with kids one on one. I liked long term sub, because I was getting to know my students.”
This year, she was offered the position of full time teacher. She is teaching Pre-AP English 9 and AP Seminar. Reynolds is focusing on slowing down and getting to know students better than she has previously.
“I’m not just jumping in, and I’m not doing all these rules right away, which is something that I would have to do right away if I were only there for a short period of time,” Reynolds said. “Now I can take my time and get to know how my students work and how to best support them.”
Sophomore Drake Selleck has worked with Reynolds in many capacities. Reynolds has taught in his classrooms before as a substitute and now he is a student in Reynolds class. They have also worked together during theater productions such as the play and musical.
“I was really surprised to see her as a teacher this year,” Selleck said. “It was a pleasant surprise though. She’s more laid back and relatable, so she’s understanding and makes AP [Seminar] easier.”
English teacher and department head Audra Whetstone was part of the decision to hire her. Reynolds student taught in Whetstone’s classroom and during this time, Whetstone was able to see her teaching skills as well as get to know her as a person.
“She stood out from other candidates because of her ability to speak with students and develop relationships,” Whetstone said. “Also, just seeing her work in other capacities last year in those many different roles here at Northview showed her flexibility and adaptability in our culture.”
After seeing Reynolds acclimate to her new classroom, Whetstone is confident in the decision to hire her. Many new teachers may take a while to adjust to a new environment, but in only a week, Reynolds has been able to not only survive but thrive.
“I think she’s a natural fit,” Whetstone said. “She’s so good with her students and her content, and it’s been really awesome to see her get settled in her classroom.”
After waiting so long, the opportunity to teach has felt surreal to Reynolds.
“I think for me the hardest thing is just reminding myself that this is real and that I am in control and that this isn’t going to disappear,” Reynolds said.
