By: Maeve Gimpl

As many of you already know, Highland has welcomed two student teachers from Saint Cloud State University. They stand alongside our current teachers here at HP to further engage in their final steps of learning before finally becoming educators themselves. I was able to spend a little time with Mr. Johnson and Ms. Meyer last week to ask them what a normal day for them would look like, as well as how they’re liking it so far.

To start off their regular morning, both student teachers get up bright and early to head to Highland for a long day of work. Ms. Meyer can be found teaching U.S. government with Mr. Zeitchick during the day, while Mr. Johnson heads up to Ms. Rise’s room to help teach geography. Both student teachers were telling me how much they enjoy working with not only their designated teachers but with the students as well!

For Ms. Meyer, this wasn’t her first time student teaching at a school; in fact, she’s on her fourth and final school that she has to teach at before she can finally become a teacher! I asked Ms. Meyer what her first day here at Highland was like. “I LOVED it,” she immediately replied. She proceeded to tell me that her favorite part of teaching so far has been interacting with the students–”and having them make fun of me,” she added with a laugh. When I asked her if she had a least favorite part of teaching, she said she didn’t have one! “I’m right where I’m supposed to be…I’m lovin’ life at HP!”

Mr. Johnson, just like Ms. Meyer, also said that his favorite part of teaching has been being able to interact with all the people at Highland. “I’ve had a lot of fun meeting the students and getting to know them,” Mr. Johnson admits. “It makes my day to be able to hang out with kids who are fun and have really good things to say!” He also told me that he has enjoyed his time with Ms. Rise both inside and outside of school, adding that they’ve even gone canoeing together on Lake Calhoun. Besides student teaching, Mr. Johnson loves biking, video games, and fantasy football.

It was great being able to get to know Ms. Meyer and Mr. Johnson this past week. One response really stuck out for me. When I asked both of them what their dream job would be, if they knew they could be successful in any career that they pursued, they both responded with confidence, “high school teacher.” This really shows how passionate and excited they are to continue their last bit of student teaching so that they can finally become teachers themselves!

Last week, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Mr. Sager, who is a new admin at Highland this year and will be in charge of the Freshman and Sophomore classes.

Mr. Sager, who is looking forward to finally working with high school students and discussing their future with them, decided to be an administrator after he was left wanting more responsibility after a few years of being a social studies teacher. He said that he loved teaching and misses it at times, but is very happy to be at HP. He hopes that people learn that he is very approachable and isn’t there just to discipline students.

Sager, who participated in FFA and a multitude of sports in high school wishes he had iPads during that time. He has high hopes for the implementation of technology at HP and believes that it will help students stay organized, just like it has already helped him, and that it will severely cut back on the amount of paper that needs to be constantly being exchanged between students and staff.

Sager also has very strong beliefs that a great member of an administrative team must be consistent, compassionate and operate with honesty, integrity and dependability. He gathers his inspiration from his family and the Livestrong Foundation motto, “Unity is strength, knowledge is power and attitude is everything.” He also drives himself to live “everyday with integrity, strength and, most importantly, values.”

I sat down for an interview. Dr. Shipp, who has been in the district for 25 years, is a new admin at Highland this year and will be managing the Junior and Senior classes.

Dr. Shipp, is eager to get to know the staff she will be working with and build relationships with students. She decided to be an administrator after discovering her love for working and developing students during her work as a school social worker. She hopes that people learn that she is very shy but hopes to get to know all the students she works with.

Shipp, who played the flute and participated in Student Council in high school is excited about the implementation of iPads this November. She has high hopes for technology at HP and believes that it will help students become true global citizens and put Highland on the same playing field as schools around the world. She also thinks that it will be a “game changer” in individualized instruction.

Dr. Shipp also believes that a great administrator must follow all aspects of the IB learner profile. “Perhaps the greatest aspect is to be a communicator, which means to not only be a good speaker but a superb listener,” said Shipp. She also thinks that broad knowledge and political savvy are important in being able to understand people’s views. She garners inspiration from the following quote from George Washington Carver: “Education is the key to unlock the golden door of freedom”. She interprets this quote to mean that without education, a person becomes imprisoned within their own mind.

You can contact Dr. Shipp at: deborah.shipp@spps.org, 651-744-4655