Mrs. Dykes

Education: Bachelor of Arts, Sociology, University of Oklahoma

 

What is the most important life lesson you want a child to learn in your classroom? 
The world we live in today is an interactive and connected place. Understanding how you and your community can interact and affect change empowers you in your personal and professional relationships. Persistence, tenacity and innovation are traits that have and will continue to change our world.

 

What motivated you to become a teacher? 
Because I am an avowed bibliophile, I wanted to share my passion for reading and learning with young people.

 

How do you inspire a student who has a hard time with your subject area?  
Finding a personal connection for a student is the key to inspiration. Economics has application in every aspect of our lives, while government is the method by which we affect change in our circumstances. Human Geography is how people, communities and cultures impact their environment. Connecting a student directly to their community and environment allows them to understand how that can make positive impacts and changes to their circumstance and inspires them to be actively involved in those changes.

 

What do you want your students to gain from having known you? 
Success isn't permanent and failure isn't final. Tenacity and attitude change our opportunities to outcomes, but you have to care and you have to work to see the results you desire. Our modern connectivity and instant access to information about our communities and our world can bring the people and nations closer together in common positive goals, but only with an applied passion of purpose. No matter who they are and what their passions may be, they should know I care about them, who they are and who they can become.

 

What is the best compliment you’ve ever received or could receive as a teacher?
I am often told by former students that although my class and the subject matter was the most challenging they had encountered in high school, they loved coming to my class every day.  They felt that they were well prepared for their college classes because of the study habits they adopted in my classroom.