Spotlight

A new beginning for many new teachers: New staff brings varied backgrounds to Ben Davis hallways

Thursday, September 06, 2007 By Hojin Lee

Ringing bells, running students and, of course, the crowded hallways, those are the typical days at school but there is something new that everyone should notice. Yes, that is right many new teachers who have arrived. A lot of new-comers came last year but also, there are a lot new teachers about total of 36 that joined our staff for this year. For instance, Michael Vetter, Social Studies, has been teaching government and all Social Studies classes for four years. “I was a Database Administrator before coming to Wayne Enrichment center,” Vetter said. Martha Sacks, ENL, is also joining our staff members. “I have taught for seven years. I’ve been a classroom teacher, an ENL teacher, an ENL Coordinator, and an instructional coach,” Sacks said. According to Sacks, she already likes being here and enjoys getting to know the students and learning more about the high school. Also, one of the newest teachers is experiencing their first year of teaching like Holly Spohr, Math. “This is my first year teaching at Ben Davis and I just graduated from college. For this year, I am teaching Algebra 1- Second Semester students as well as the Algebra 2 Honors,” Spohr said. In addition to that, Justin Allison, Art, has been teaching awhile now at a variety of schools. “This is my seventh year teaching art. After I graduated from Purdue, I started my teaching career at Crown Point High School in Crown Point, Indiana. When I finished my first year of teaching I decided to move back to Indianapolis, at which point I was hired at Fulton Jr. High School. I taught there for three years before they began to remodel the school. Once Fulton closed, I transferred to the Lynhurst Seventh and Eighth Grade Center where I taught for two years before moving to BD.,” Allison said. However, Allison is not only a new teacher but also, he was one of the graduates from here. “I am a Ben Davis graduate, so it has interesting returning to a school where I was once was a student. Things have changed a lot since I graduated, but I have had a great start to the new school year. Everyone on the staff I have come in contact with has been extremely helpful, and I am continually impressed by the student body of Ben Davis,” Allison said. Even though Spohr has not been teaching all that long here, she already feels welcome and comfortable working with all the other teachers. “Everyone is willing to help everybody out! I feel very welcome here at BD and it’s not just the math department, it’s all teachers. They are helpful in getting answers to me. In my other schools I have worked in, I was very much on my own. So it is nice to be part of a team that helps each other out,” Spohr said. With teaching seventh and eighth graders for the last five years, Allison says that the difference between the other schools and here is the maturity level of his students and it is great seeing some of his older students that he taught awhile ago turned into responsible high school students. To Sacks, her students are her number one priority and she wants to help them to become more involved in all the programs and activities that our school has to offer. Furthermore, Allison has a lot on his mind when it comes to his new career. “Even though I have been teaching for awhile, I still see every year as a chance to be a better teacher. I am working in a great new department with talented teachers, so my goal for this year is to learn as much as possible from them as the year goes on. That way next year will be even better.” Allison said. Vetter also wants to teach his students a better understating of government and getting their diploma because a lot of students have more drive into school than others. Spohr’s goals for the students are to get them to understand the concepts that she is teaching. She also wants to help them out in many forms to get them to understand better.