Editor’s Note: Some responses were edited for clarity
Ms. Heidi Drawec: Assistant Principal
As an assistant principal, what do you look forward to most at the beginning of the year?
It’s having that first day with everybody coming back together as a community. We get to see teachers, students, everyone back together again. I really look forward to that.
When did you decide you wanted to become an educator, and what made you realize it?
I was in college, taking a totally different course than education, and there was an English professor that made me love English and reading and writing. There we had to do community service, so I tutored middle schoolers, and I loved the “Aha Moment” when they finally got something. I went ahead and transferred schools and I decided to try education, and merge that with English, and it set the course for me becoming an educator.
If you could instantly learn how to do anything, what would you want to learn? Why?
I’d love to learn how to read people, and know what they’re thinking. Like if I’m trying to figure out why someone’s doing something, it would be great to kind of know what’s going on in their head, their internal monologue.
Ms. Kelsey Burroughs: Long-term Spanish Substitute
As a teacher, what do you look forward to most at the beginning of the year?
I look forward to meeting and getting to know and connect with my new students.
When did you decide you wanted to become an educator, and what made you realize it?
I’ve always been interested in education, but I decided that I wanted to pursue being an educator while I was in college. One factor in my decision was thinking back on the teachers that I had at LHS who inspired me.
If you could instantly learn how to do anything, what would you want to learn? Why?
I would like to learn new languages in order to travel the world and communicate with all of the people that I meet.
Ms. Juliet Keenan: Special Education Supervisor
As a special education supervisor, what do you look forward to most at the beginning of the year?
I worked at Center last year so I look forward to seeing the past graduates on campus.
When did you decide to go into this career, and what made you realize it?
When I was 5 years old I found that I had an affinity for education while teaching my siblings.
If you could instantly learn how to do anything, what would you want to learn? Why?
I would want to learn how to be an awesome painter. It’s not my best skill.
Ms. Sarah White: School Adjustment Counselor and Social Worker
As a social worker and school adjustment counselor, what do you look forward to most at the beginning of the year?
At the beginning of a new school year, I look forward to making meaningful connections with students in multiple different ways. Of course I primarily meet with students in my office to process difficult emotions when they arise, but I also enjoy just sitting down and getting to know students for who they are. Sometimes a personal connection with a school adjustment counselor goes a long way and helps you reach out when you really need it most.
When did you decide you wanted to become a counselor/social worker, and what made you realize it?
I only recently decided that I wanted to be a school social worker. After graduating college with a bachelor’s degree in psychology, I realized I needed to continue my studies in order to help people in the way that I wanted to. My mom was actually the one who suggested I look into social work because the field offers such a wide range of opportunities and settings to work in. After trying out a few other settings, I decided to come back to school. I really enjoy working with high school students because I remember how tough of a time this was in my life, and it brings things full circle for me to help others going through it as well.
If you could instantly learn how to do anything, what would you want to learn? Why?
If I could learn how to do anything it would be to talk to animals. I’m a huge dog lover and animal lover in general, and I often find myself wishing I could communicate with them and hear what they’re thinking! I have a 3 year old border collie/australian shepard mix at home and if I could communicate with her I think that would make my life a whole lot easier!
Mr. Stephen Barnett: Music and Entrepreneurship
As a teacher, what do you look forward to most at the beginning of the year?
Seeing all the new faces and seeing the excitement in every class.
When did you decide you wanted to become an educator, and what made you realize it?
I decided I wanted to become an educator after going through the music program here. Being in all the music classes here just was really inspiring, so I wanted to do the same.
If you could instantly learn how to do anything, what would you want to learn? Why?
Probably play the pedal steel guitar. It’s a really complicated instrument, but I’d love to be able to play it.
Ms. Christina Gonzalez: Mathematics
As a teacher, what do you look forward to most at the beginning of the year?
I would say I look forward most to getting to meet the students.
When did you decide you wanted to become an educator, and what made you realize it?
I’ve always known I wanted to be a teacher. I wanted to combine my love for teaching and my love for math.
If you could instantly learn how to do anything, what would you want to learn? Why?
I would say anything art related.
