Mr. Mize

Education: Bachelor’s in Classics and Political Science, Master’s in Latin, University of Florida

 

How do you feel you can help students to “Start Here. Go Anywhere.”?
I think one of the main things we can do is teach students how to learn complex topics and give them the confidence they’ll need to use their skills in the real world.  If they are skilled learners and have confidence in their ability, they will be able to succeed in any college or professional environment they encounter.

 

What motivated you to become a teacher?
When I began college, I thought it was most important to choose a profession that provided a high salary and/or social status. As I grew and changed in college, I decided to seek a profession that would provide enjoyment and a sense that I was making a positive and lasting impact on society. I decided that teaching and making an impact on thousands of students in my career and preparing them for college and life would be a rewarding choice.

 

How do you keep current with the subject areas you cover?
I attend conferences each year, like the Florida Foreign Language Association in October and the National Junior Classical League in July. I choose conferences where I know there will be a large number of Latin teachers and I try to learn new methods so that I can adjust my teaching and get better each year. Latin teachers are a fairly tight group, so we also regularly share and help each other at several online venues.

 

How do you inspire students to enjoy learning?
I try to inspire my students with a love of learning by exhibiting a passion and excitement for Latin myself. I also take my students to Latin competitions around the state and nation. This makes them more comfortable being studious and ambitious because they meet and bond with other students who love studying Latin and aren’t afraid to be smart. I’ve found that these events bring out the best in my students and I have had many achieve at a very high level.

 

What are your hopes for your program/discipline at Holy Trinity?
I hope to continue the progress that we made last year at our competitive Latin events. We moved up three spots in the state rankings and sent more students to nationals than Holy Trinity ever has, which was incredible, so my goal is to make us one of the top Latin programs in the state within the next three years. I’m pleased that we added an Ancient Greece and Rome course to our curriculum this year and we hope to add a Greek language in the future.

 

What do you want your students to take away from being in your class?
I would like students to come away from my classes with an appreciation of being learned, cultured, ethical, and well-spoken people.  I hope they would have become more self-driven and would be motivated to work hard and be the best at whatever they do in life.