Being a teacher requires many qualities, such as patience, commitment, and adaptability. Christy Garner, an English language arts teacher at Plant High School, talks about why she chose to become one.

“I had amazing English teachers during my school years. They taught me many things, and I wanted the chance to do what they did for me. I also have a keen passion for books, so I wanted to make them come to life,” Garner said.

Even though this is only Garner’s second year at Plant High, she has had no problem adapting. She then describes why she decided to choose Plant.

“Teaching at Plant was always a dream of mine, just because the community seemed so knit and close. It seemed like wherever I went in the school, everyone knew everyone,” Garner said.

Garner has a vivid passion for playing a part in her students’ success. She thinks it’s important to keep her students involved and in check regarding schoolwork and studying. By trying to get to know the child at a personal level, her teaching methods can be found to be relatable to the student.

“I feel like it’s extremely important to get to know as many students as I can. This helps me understand how every child learns, so I know what learning techniques to enable in my lesson plans. I also try to keep my content interesting, so I try to get input from different types of students,” Garner said.

So far, Garner has enjoyed being a teacher. Not only does she get to do what she really loves, but also gets to empower students’ lives along the way. Though there can be challenges along the way, Garner is excited and hopeful for the future. And to all students, she offers a piece of advice.

“Always show up and put in as much effort as you can. The more you learn, the more you will succeed.”