The West Prairie Press

By Janell Heaton

Meredith Gravina is an English teacher here at West Prairie Jr. Sr. High. West Prairie Press wanted to spotlight all the teachers so new students could get to know them better. West Prairie Press started off with Gravina because of her non-traditional upbringing to becoming a teacher.  

WP Press: When and how did you know that you wanted to be a teacher? 

MG: I actually did not decide to become a teacher until about a year into working a job I hated after graduating college with a degree in communications. I didn’t feel a sense of purpose so I thought teaching would be a better career choice.

WP Press: What were some struggles that you had while becoming a teacher? 

MG: I ended up doing a nontraditional program to get my teaching certificate. It was a struggle because I did it while working full time. I also had to retake all my teaching exams when I started teaching in Illinois. 

WP Press: What about teaching do you find motivating? 

MG: I enjoy helping students learn and grow. I particularly like teaching upper grade levels because I like to help kids figure out what they want to do after graduation. It’s rewarding to watch juniors mature into seniors.

WP Press: Do you have passion for the subject you are teaching?  

MG: I definitely have a passion for English. I have always been an avid reader. I love to read and discuss literature. I also really enjoy history. If I didn’t teach English, that’s the subject I would probably teach. So I like to teach literature from the past to see how it reflected society at the time and still relates to human emotion today.

WP Press: How do you want to make a positive impact on students? 

MG: One of the best things about being a teacher is establishing relationships with students. I always try to encourage my students to be the best they can be whether it’s on an assignment we are doing in class or just being a good human out in the world. 

WP Press: How do you want to help your students grow academically and personally? 

MG: I always want my students to be as prepared for post high school as much as possible no matter what that path may be. For some students, I am pushing them to be ready to write at the college level. For other students, it may be practicing skills that will help them in the work force. On a personal level, sometimes I’m helping students make decisions on their future plans or helping them solve problems they may be having outside of class.

WP Press: How do you deal with behavior issues in your classroom?  

MG: Hmm… well, I’d like to say I deal with behavior issues in a calm and effective way. But not all students may agree with my evaluation. My main goal is to stop any distracting or disruptive behavior in the most respectful way I can. And a good hallway chat usually helps.

WP Press: What classes do you teach this year? What classes have you taught in the past? What’s your favorite class to teach?

MG: I am teaching English III, Advanced English III, Applied English IV, Advanced English IV, Public Speaking, and Study Hall. I have taught English I and II in the past as well as Drama Arts and Film Production. I enjoy teaching all my classes, but I really like my Fridays in the Media Center during Study Hall where I get to do some library duties. Something about organizing books on shelves calms my soul.

WP Press: What do you feel your strengths and weaknesses are as a teacher? 

MG: I’ve been told I’m very patient. So I would say that is a strength when it comes to being a teacher. I also genuinely love being a teacher. I enjoy coming to work almost every day. I think my students can sense this. My weakness is that I’m not a morning person. Sometimes I can’t even form words during 1st hour. I would be very ok if schools moved the start time back.

WP Press: What kind of environment do you hope/want to create for your students? 

MG: I try to create a hipster bbq vibe in my classroom. On a serious note, I try to create a classroom where everyone feels welcome and comfortable. I know that not everyone loves the subject of English, but I want students to somewhat enjoy their time in my class. 

WP Press: What is the biggest challenge you have faced since becoming a teacher?

MG: The biggest challenge I have faced is COVID-19 and its lasting impact it’s had on students. Other challenges include cell phone and social media use and how that has affected the mental health of a lot of students. The cell phone ban has already helped tremendously with this challenge. I am seeing kids more engaged during the school day and making meaningful connections with their peers. Oh, and ChatGPT has been a real treat.

WP Press: How did you get to West Prairie? 

MG: I received a phone call about an English position opening at West Prairie. At the time, I was teaching in Abingdon and had just had my first child. So I was very excited at the possibility of shortening my drive each day. I have really enjoyed working at West Prairie for the past 10 years!

WP Press: What degrees do you have? 

MG: I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications with a Theatre Minor from the University of Missouri.

WP Press: What qualities or skills do you feel people need to be a good teacher? 

MG: The most important thing is that you have to enjoy being around young people. So much of your time is going to be spent with whatever age group you are going to teach. I think the other important thing is having passion for the subject you teach. If you are excited about the content, then that will transfer to your students.

If you have any of the qualities or skills Gravina said, have you thought about being a teacher? Do you feel that COVID was a challenge for you as a student? Leave a comment below to let us know your answers to both of these questions.