New to the Valley

Q&A with Associate Principal Jennifer Smith How long have you been teaching? I taught for seven years at Gardner, and then I came to Mill Valley and I taught, I believe, six years here. That was three years ago. What have you taught? I started off teaching English, and then I moved to teaching Debate and Forensics. When I came here, I started off teaching English, and then I moved to...

Q&A with communication arts teacher Cathy Stevens Where did you get your degree/go to college? I went to Emporia State and got a degree in communication arts. Then I went to the University of Rhode Island for my masters. How long have you been teaching? This will be my second year teaching. What grade will you be teaching? I will be teaching 9th and 10th grades. Can you tell me about past ...

Where did you go to college? K-State. What did you major in? Music education with a vocal emphasis. Can you tell me about your past teaching experience? I have been teaching in Deer Park, Texas, around Houston. I was teaching choir there for three years, and I’m from the Kansas City area so I’ve always wanted to come teach here. How long have you been involved in music? Fo...

What classes will you be teaching? College Algebra, Integrated math II and Integrated math III support. What made you want to become a teacher? I really like kids and enjoy the school setting and I guess that’s why. What is your past experience? I worked in Topeka at Washburn Rural and the past eight years I’ve been a Leavenworth High. What are you excited about for this year? ...

What classes will you be teaching? I will be teaching [art] foundations, drawing I and sculpture. What do you do in sculpture? In sculpture, you’re going to get to use a lot of different mediums, like we might use wire, plaster or cardboard. Just about anything you can think of to make three dimensional art. What is your favorite medium to use? My favorite art in my own free time ...

 Where did you go to college? Northwest Missouri State [University]. What inspired you to become a P.E. teacher? I’ve always been really fired up about fitness and the human body and taking care of the one we get. What classes will you be teaching here at Mill Valley? I have team sports and I have a strength and conditioning class. Did you play any sports when you were in high s...

How long have you been teaching? This will be my fourth year teaching. I originally taught at Leavenworth high school. What grade are you teaching? Nine and eleven. What brought you to Mill Valley? It’s closer to home and I heard it was an awesome school. Where did you grow up? In Olathe. When did you decide to become a teacher? I’ve kind of always wanted to be a teac...

  How long have you been a Nurse? I’ve been a nurse since 1995 and I started out at a hospital in Missouri. I stayed there for five years then decided to stay home with my kids. After a while of that, I got into subbing and did that for eight years and now I’m here. What made you want to become a nurse? I had a family member who pushed me towards it because of the many opportuniti...

What subject are you teaching? I’m teaching freshmen math, or Integrated Math I. Did you transfer from another school or is this your first year teaching? I transferred. This is my sixth year teaching—I have spent the last 4 years teaching at Newton High School. I taught math there as well and I was the basketball coach and the assistant baseball coach there. How do you think you�...

Where did you go to college? I went to a small liberal arts college in Minnesota called Gustavus Adolphus College.   How long have you been teaching? I started teaching in 1997. I taught from 1997 from 2005, and then stayed home with [my children]. I was working as a para for Horizon [Elementary] and subbing. I long term subbed for [former Spanish teacher Niti] Kamath a few years. What ...

Where are you from? I am from the the Shawnee area, I was born and raised around Shawnee. I went through the De Soto schools as a child. I graduated from De Soto High School in 1999. What college did you go to? I went to Emporia State University. What year did you graduate? I graduated in December of 2003. What made you want to teach high school? This is my first year teaching high sc...

What department are you in? I am in the social studies department. What will you be teaching? I will be teaching sophomore World History and freshman Pre-AP Civics and Pre-AP World Geography. What is your past experience of teaching? Last year, I was a resource teacher here at Mill Valley and prior to that, I was a special education para. Why did you choose to be a history teacher? H...

What have your past teaching experiences been like? Well previously, the last two years I’ve been at Monticello Trails Middle School teaching seventh grade social studies. Before that,  I taught in a school district in Missouri called Hallsville.  My first five years there I taught eighth grade social studies. Then the next two years, I taught Physical Education, Health, and Government, or ...

Is this your first time teaching? This will be my 31st year teaching. I taught for 30 years in Missouri. Is this your first time teaching math? No, I was a football coach and I have also taught P.E. What is your favorite thing about math? I just like that it is problem solving and that it is pretty black and white. What are you looking forward to this school year? I haven’t be...