Emerson High School appreciates AP Literature and Advanced English II teacher, Olivia McGaughey, for her constant hard work and compassion. McGaughey has been at Emerson for three years, fulfilling her childhood dream of having an impact on students of her own someday.
“I always knew that I wanted to be a teacher. When I was little I had a lot of influential teachers in my life that taught me the joy of reading and English,” McGaughey said.
Through the “Over the Garden Wall” project she did with her AP Literature class and a press release project that her English II Advanced students completed using the books they read, McGaughey works to create a learning environment that allows students the freedom of creativity and self-expression.
“I love English because there’s not a lot of areas in at least core curriculum classes where you can be open the way you can in English. Having a connection to content in that way is so important for students to feel comfortable and grow,” McGaughey said.
McGaughey makes learning for her students interactive while ensuring that they leave her class at the end of the year as stronger writers, prepared for what is ahead of them.
“[English] has those foundations that students use not only throughout the rest of their high school career, but throughout their college career as well,” McGaughey said.
In addition to creating a unique learning environment, she makes sure that her classroom is always a safe space for her students so that they feel comfortable to branch out and be creative with their learning.
“My pedagogy as a teacher is relationships first because if you don’t have a good relationship with kids, then they’re not going to feel comfortable enough to come to you with questions. It makes it a lot easier to learn when you like the place that you’re in,” McGaughey said.
McGaughey cares about her students and wants them to feel comfortable and confident in her classroom, especially when challenged with new forms of writing.
“Last year I had my own classes and I think my biggest accomplishment is having those kids come back and still come talk to me and come see me…it shows that my classroom was a safe space for those kids and that I did have that relationship,” McGaughey said.
She knows how important it is to be there for her students. As a highschooler, McGaughey felt the impact a single teacher can have on their students through the support she received from her American Sign Language teacher, Ms. Shadow.
“She really encouraged me, and basically just built up my self-confidence…if it was not for Ms. Shadow, I probably would not be here. Ms. Shadow really took hold of my life and gave it shape,” McGaughey said.
