Interview by Ava DeSimone
The Falconer: What has been your favorite thing about working at Mashpee High School?
Ms. Kelly: My favorite thing about working at Mashpee High School would be you guys, the kids. You’re the best part of my day. I always love to talk to you guys and hear your stories and just hear your insights on the books we’re reading and what we’re discussing in class. So by far my favorite part is working with you guys.
The Falconer: Has there ever been a time when you got home from work one day, and thought “I wish I hadn’t become a teacher?” If so, what was the occasion?
Ms. Kelly: No, I think you have bad days in every job, but no, there’s never been a specific day where I’ve gotten home and thought that I didn’t want to be a teacher. I think some days are more stressful than others, but pretty much every day, even on a hard day, the good outweighs the bad.
The Falconer: What has been your favorite thing about working at Mashpee High School?
Ms. Kelly: My favorite thing about working at Mashpee High School would be you guys, the kids. You’re the best part of my day. I always love to talk to you guys and hear your stories and just hear your insights on the books we’re reading and what we’re discussing in class. So by far my favorite part is working with you guys.
The Falconer: Has there ever been a time when you got home from work one day, and thought “I wish I hadn’t become a teacher?” If so, what was the occasion?
Ms. Kelly: No, I think you have bad days in every job, but no, there’s never been a specific day where I’ve gotten home and thought that I didn’t want to be a teacher. I think some days are more stressful than others, but pretty much every day, even on a hard day, the good outweighs the bad.
The Falconer: What is something many people/students would be shocked to know about you?
Ms. Kelly: This is a hard question. Maybe how about I absolutely hate to cook, I hate going to the grocery store, and it’s like my most dreaded chore figuring out what to have for dinner every night.
The Falconer: Do you have a role model? Someone who has influenced you in positive ways, at either this point in your life or growing up?
Ms. Kelly: I think, you know, you have multiple role models over the course of your life, and I can’t say that I’ve just had one. I come from a family that has really strong women, that have always taught me to kind of follow your dreams, and do what’s best for you and always try your best. So, I would say my mom, and my aunts, and my friends that have always encouraged me along the way. I can’t name just one, but I feel like at every phase in your life you have someone that kind of pushes you along. You just have to be on the lookout for those people.
The Falconer: Do you have any advice you would give to students who want to pursue a career involving education?
Ms. Kelly: Yeah, I’d say you should do it for sure, but also make sure you love it and think about and put a lot of time into what you want to teach, and what grade you want to teach because I think that’s really important. I love teaching at the middle-high school level. I don’t know if I would love it as much in the older grades, I’ve never done it, but I would say take some time to think about where you see yourself within education and what part of education would make you the happiest. I mean it could be special education, it could be general education, it could be education administration. Think about really where you see yourself.
The Falconer: Is there anything you would change about your life today if you were given the chance?
Ms. Kelly: I don’t know, that’s a hard question, I think no. I think everything happens for a reason, so you end up where you’re supposed to be kind of, based on everything that happens to you in the past. I’m pretty satisfied and happy with where I am, so I don’t think so.
The Falconer: What do you do during your free time outside of school? The weekends, summer break?
Ms. Kelly: It’s probably not a shock that I love to read for pleasure. I’m a huge beachgoer, I love to stand up paddleboard, I go for walks all year long, and spend time with my family and my friends.
The Falconer: When you were younger what did you imagine you would be doing at this time in your life? Is it different than where you are now?
Ms. Kelly: Yes, I thought I would either be a lawyer or working in publishing. I never thought I would be a teacher. So it’s very different. But like I was saying before, everything happens for a reason, so I think there’s definitely parts of both of those jobs that I probably wouldn’t have been happy with. I’m glad it didn’t pan out the way I had initially thought.
The Falconer: What do you think your strengths are as a teacher that have helped you from your first year of teaching to now?
Ms. Kelly: I think I’m really organized, which you have to be. I think I can plan ahead pretty well. I like to think that I take the time to really get to know my students and hope that they know that I care about them a lot, and that they can always talk to me or ask for help if they need it. Which, in turn, I think helps them feel comfortable in class and succeed academically. I hope anyway.
The Falconer: Finally, how challenging has it been for you to alter your teaching style during the Covid pandemic?
Ms. Kelly: It’s been hard. But it’s been hard for everybody. It’s been hard for you guys, the students. It’s been hard for all of the teachers. It’s been hard for parents that are trying to balance homeschool. So I think everyone can kind of relate to that. I will say I think I’ve learned a lot about how to incorporate new technology stuff into my classroom, which has been helpful but it's been a challenge. It’s been stressful at times, but I will say I’m really proud of all of my students for the way they’ve come in there and continue to do their work and sign on zoom. And just how everyone’s really kind of come together to make sure that it’s a good year for everyone, despite all the challenges.
Ms. Kelly: This is a hard question. Maybe how about I absolutely hate to cook, I hate going to the grocery store, and it’s like my most dreaded chore figuring out what to have for dinner every night.
The Falconer: Do you have a role model? Someone who has influenced you in positive ways, at either this point in your life or growing up?
Ms. Kelly: I think, you know, you have multiple role models over the course of your life, and I can’t say that I’ve just had one. I come from a family that has really strong women, that have always taught me to kind of follow your dreams, and do what’s best for you and always try your best. So, I would say my mom, and my aunts, and my friends that have always encouraged me along the way. I can’t name just one, but I feel like at every phase in your life you have someone that kind of pushes you along. You just have to be on the lookout for those people.
The Falconer: Do you have any advice you would give to students who want to pursue a career involving education?
Ms. Kelly: Yeah, I’d say you should do it for sure, but also make sure you love it and think about and put a lot of time into what you want to teach, and what grade you want to teach because I think that’s really important. I love teaching at the middle-high school level. I don’t know if I would love it as much in the older grades, I’ve never done it, but I would say take some time to think about where you see yourself within education and what part of education would make you the happiest. I mean it could be special education, it could be general education, it could be education administration. Think about really where you see yourself.
The Falconer: Is there anything you would change about your life today if you were given the chance?
Ms. Kelly: I don’t know, that’s a hard question, I think no. I think everything happens for a reason, so you end up where you’re supposed to be kind of, based on everything that happens to you in the past. I’m pretty satisfied and happy with where I am, so I don’t think so.
The Falconer: What do you do during your free time outside of school? The weekends, summer break?
Ms. Kelly: It’s probably not a shock that I love to read for pleasure. I’m a huge beachgoer, I love to stand up paddleboard, I go for walks all year long, and spend time with my family and my friends.
The Falconer: When you were younger what did you imagine you would be doing at this time in your life? Is it different than where you are now?
Ms. Kelly: Yes, I thought I would either be a lawyer or working in publishing. I never thought I would be a teacher. So it’s very different. But like I was saying before, everything happens for a reason, so I think there’s definitely parts of both of those jobs that I probably wouldn’t have been happy with. I’m glad it didn’t pan out the way I had initially thought.
The Falconer: What do you think your strengths are as a teacher that have helped you from your first year of teaching to now?
Ms. Kelly: I think I’m really organized, which you have to be. I think I can plan ahead pretty well. I like to think that I take the time to really get to know my students and hope that they know that I care about them a lot, and that they can always talk to me or ask for help if they need it. Which, in turn, I think helps them feel comfortable in class and succeed academically. I hope anyway.
The Falconer: Finally, how challenging has it been for you to alter your teaching style during the Covid pandemic?
Ms. Kelly: It’s been hard. But it’s been hard for everybody. It’s been hard for you guys, the students. It’s been hard for all of the teachers. It’s been hard for parents that are trying to balance homeschool. So I think everyone can kind of relate to that. I will say I think I’ve learned a lot about how to incorporate new technology stuff into my classroom, which has been helpful but it's been a challenge. It’s been stressful at times, but I will say I’m really proud of all of my students for the way they’ve come in there and continue to do their work and sign on zoom. And just how everyone’s really kind of come together to make sure that it’s a good year for everyone, despite all the challenges.