Every day, students see her welcoming them into her classroom with a big smile. Olivia Henry, a social studies teacher at WCHS, teaches with excitement and engages students daily.
“It depends on which class it is, but I try to make all my classes engaging and relevant with things like fun projects, discussing current events or getting out of the classroom,” Henry said. “For example, in Honors Modern World History, we do a World War I board game project.”
Teaching different subjects requires tailored teaching styles. Henry teaches AP Government and Politics, Honors Modern World History and Leadership, all requiring their own unique twist to how they are taught.
“I would describe Ms. Henry’s teaching style as facilitator and group style because she always gives us the opportunity to work in groups with new people and use our critical and collaborative skills to work towards a problem,” WCHS senior Veronica Lemos said.
This is Henry’s first year teaching the Leadership class. Leadership is an elective that students can take to learn the essential skills of a leader and to get involved in planning and preparing for school events. So far, Leadership has helped organize school events such as Winter Week, pep rallies and a canned food drive.
“For a class like Leadership, I knew we would need something like a field trip to help our group spend more time together, get out of their comfort zones and get closer to each other while making a difference,” Henry said. “I can tell the field trips made an impact on them as they have been hounding me to go on another one!”
Henry not only teaches, but she learns. In any position, it is important to continue to grow and strive to improve. She models to her students what it truly means to be a lifelong learner.
“Reflection and collaboration are the biggest, most helpful tools for growth for me as a teacher,” Henry said. “Making sure that I am being reflective and introspective about my teaching, my language, my actions, etc., helps hold me accountable and helps me grow.”
Henry’s students are appreciative of the lessons and activities planned in the classroom to help form a tight-knit group. Henry emphasizes the importance of inclusivity and ensures that everyone feels comfortable talking to one another.
“A special memory from Ms. Henry’s class was Thanksgiving when we did a ‘Leadersgiving,’” Lemos said. “Everyone came together and brought food. The event brought us all together and made us feel grateful for Ms. Henry and the class.”
While Henry is dedicated to helping her students succeed academically, her goals as a teacher extend far beyond test scores and final grades. She strives to make students feel valued for who they are as individuals.
“I hope students remember that I cared about them as a human, regardless of how they performed in class,” Henry said. “I hope that they carry with them an understanding of the importance of social studies in creating a better world for the future.”
