Leslie Jessip, an English teacher to freshmen, and an honors English teacher to sophomores. Jessip has dedicated her career for up to eleven years and counting to teaching all forms of English, ranging grades 7-12. Leslie Jessup loves to teach her students and can thankfully multitask both honors English and normal English. Leslie Jessip plans to keep on teaching and even switching up what grades she teaches again.
Q: How long have you worked as an English teacher?
“For eleven years, I taught American English, specifically I taught 9th and 11th grade the most. I’ve also taught 10th grade, 12th grade, one semester of 7th grade, I spent two years also teaching some rigorous courses outside of honors English ten, where I taught English composition one and two. I’ve taught creative writing, a novel studies class, and reading strategies before.
Q: Is it hard to teach English and Honors English?
“No, I don’t think it’s difficult per se, but the only thing I think could be the most challenging is going from teaching a higher-level course with rigor to stepping down from that rigor. Also to remind yourself you can’t do the same thing you do for the more difficult class to that normal class.”
Q: What’s the most enjoyable thing to teach in English entirely
“I really enjoyed teaching creative writing, probably because my master’s degree associated more with the creative writing element and it’s just a bit more freedom in terms of the content side of things. I do enjoy exploring the historical or American literature side of content though.”
Q: What do you like seeing most in your classroom (effort, hardworking students, quietness, etc.)?
“The students being present, and to see the ‘aha!’ moments a student experiences when finally understanding a difficult concept.”
Q: Do you plan to keep working as an English teacher?
“I’m not sure how long, it’ll probably depend on what happens after I finish my doctoral degree and what’s opened up.”
Q: Do you plan to switch grades that you teach? If so, why or why not?
“Next year I will be teaching seniors English, but I will keep teaching the honors ten English side. It’s nice to change up what you teach and it’s a fun age group to work with and get to know.
Q: Why did you choose to work at Baldwin?
“My first year of teaching took me out to the middle of nowhere, where the closest Walmart was an hour and thirty minutes away, so for the first time in seven years, Baldwin’s opening was the first opening to open up so close to home. So it brings me back to my home area where I did high school, I grew up, have family, and have friends. I’ve been in and out of Baldwin school district and Baker University for my entire life for various aspects.”