Now that we are almost at the end of the year we have decided to interview all the teachers that are retiring next year. We heard some rumors about Mrs Shields but we are glad to tell you that they are NOT true! Mrs Shields agreed to an interview with us and she clarified that she is planning on staying at the school as long as she can.

Apart from asking her about these rumors we also talked with her about her job, her motivations… If you want to know her answers just keep reading our interview:

• Are you going to keep working here next year?

Yes, and I’m really excited about the group of new AP students that are taking the class next year.

• How many years have you been teaching? And in this school?

I have been teaching 38 years and 20 at AMHS. I love working here and I have also worked at the College of Charleston for 27 years. But before teaching Spanish I used to teach art and PE.

• What levels of Spanish do you teach? Which one is your favorite one?

I teach Spanish 3, 5 and AP Spanish. My favorite… That’s a difficult question! I like all of them because even though AP has more literature and other things, you need to go through all of them to get to that level.

• How do you motivate your students?

I always try to see what they want to do and then I adjust the activities and exercises to what they like and what is good for them and always keeping in mind that they learn something. If I see that what we are doing is something that they don’t like then I try to do something they like after so we can finish with something fun.

• What are some of your best memories?

The amazing students that I have had and the other teachers in the school. Especially the students that are passionate about things like: plants, music, dance…

• What made you want to teach?

Since I was little I could explain difficult things easily to my friends and small cousins and I wanted my friends to have a good experience at school.

• What do you want to do once you retire?

Paint, write, read, take care of my grandchildren. I would like to go to Spain and travel around the country and to go to the Caribbean beaches. Maybe visit Oregon and travel around New England.

So  Mrs. Shields is not leaving and many more students will have the good fortune to have her as a teacher.