Angie Elliott
Fayette County High School
11th & 12th Grade AP Psychology, Psychology, and Sociology

1. How long have you been teaching? 17 years

2. What inspired you to pursue a career in education? I did not want to attend law school, so I began considering other careers for a political science major. After student teaching, I realized it was the career for me. I loved teaching despite the hard work.

3. What is your favorite thing about teaching or your biggest success story? My favorite part of education is two-pronged. I love getting to know the students and figuring out how they learn, what motivates them, etc. Then, I enjoy creating or adapting lesson plans to meet their needs. 

4. What challenges do you face in the classroom? The best and worst about my job is that you can always improve. I am always attempting to improve how I present material, how I assess comprehension and application, how I manage my classroom, how my classroom is organized, etc. This can result in an inability to put limits on the amount of time put into your job. 

5. What is something that every student should know about teachers? I hope most students know how hard their teachers work and how committed they are to their success. Sometimes we run out of patience with students, and that is unfortunate. They should know how hard we try to balance all of our responsibilities without becoming impatient.

6. What advice would you impart to a new teacher or someone who wants to become a teacher? All teachers have strengths and weaknesses.  New teachers must work to see where they excel and where they fall short. There are many components to this job, and it is impossible to be naturally strong in every area. New teachers have to be open to criticism but also trust in their abilities. The constant evolution is challenging but also extremely gratifying.  

7. What do you love to do when you're not teaching? I enjoy spending time with friends and family.  During the school year, I work very long hours. So, on breaks, I seek them out and find ways to spend time with everyone. I am up for tennis, going to new restaurants, hanging out with our dogs, or even (especially) trips to Costco.

Do you know an educator who goes above and beyond the call of duty to inspire their students? Nominate them for Teacher of the Month!