By Alexis Broderick – News Editor

Jonathan Law has many new teachers this year including Ms. Palmer. This year, Ms. Palmer is teaching Algebra 1, Algebra 2, and Pre-calculus. In previous years, she has taught these classes but in a private school setting as the sole math teacher. Now that she is at Law, she can share and collaborate with colleagues, which is an enormous benefit to her personal growth as a math teacher. Some of her hobbies include traveling, going to the beach, playing the piano, going to the gym, watching Netflix, and going out to eat. Palmer loves walking around downtown Milford in the nice weather to enjoy the restaurants, tennis courts, scenery, music, and festivals. Advocate news editor interviewed Palmer about her goals at Law.

Alexis Broderick: Why did you decide to come to Law? 

Ms. Palmer: Jonathan Law High School was actually my first choice of schools to work at. Over the course of the past year I have fallen in love with the Milford community. Law specifically made an impression on me through the theme of building relationships as a foundation to high quality instruction. The school additionally has high academic standards and a positive atmosphere that is welcoming to newcomers.

AB: How has the start of the school year has been for you? 

MP: Since coming to Law, I have experienced overwhelming positivity and support from my colleagues. The school year is off to a great start and I can tell that this is going to be a successful year. The students immediately made an impression on me through their respect and desire to work hard.

AB: What’s your philosophy on teaching?

MP: Education is key to providing students the necessary knowledge and skills to enjoy the opportunities offered by America. I strongly believe in the educational duty to train students’ academics and character so they may function successfully within a globally diverse society. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education.” I greatly value education because every student can reap the benefit of lifelong learning if a good teacher instills the love of learning.

Methods of education are perceived differently because students learn from varying teaching styles. I vary my teaching style to appeal to multiple learners. I believe that a strong educative approach promotes mastery by reviewing fundamental concepts while introducing new material. Students achieve mastery of fundamentals and a deeper understanding of concepts through application problems. Applying math to relatable scenarios is key to enriching student understanding.

I believe that students learn best in a controlled environment that promotes learning. While fostering student creativity, I desire for students to respect the unique differences among classmates and staff. To promote a learning environment, a teacher should establish clear expectations and maintain consistency in promoting high standards while caring for students’ social and emotional well-being. To evaluate the level of achievement of students, a teacher should use a variety of formative and summative assessments. To monitor student understanding, I watch students’ expressions and question them throughout the lesson along with giving entrance/exit slips, quizzes, tests, and project-based assessments. For education to be truly successful, every teacher must create meaningful experiences that prepare students to independently solve problems in a controlled educational environment and in the real world.

AB: What advice would you give to your students?

MP: Do not fear making mistakes. By staying in your comfort zone, you can not grow to your potential. If you truly try and focus your mind on achieving progress, you can gain skills that will increase your confidence. You may never be the best, but you can always be better.

AB: What are you most excited about this year?

MP: I am excited to get to know my students. I have so many personalities in each classroom which I am still getting to know. I also love the content I teach, so I am excited about seeing my students make progress in mathematics. I love the opportunities I have at Law to try new teaching/learning styles, build relationships, collaborate with colleagues, and immerse myself in the school culture.