New Staff Spotlight: Sarah Misener, English Teacher/Broadcast Journalism Advisor/Speech Team Coach 📖
“I spent most of my childhood on a farm south of Morris in MVK’s school district. I moved to the south side of Mazon on Jewett St. when I was a junior. I am a Class of 1997 graduate of Seneca High School, where I was a 3 sport athlete and was heavily involved in other extracurriculars such as NHS and FFA.”
“After high school, I played volleyball at and attended JJC, then earned my English degree from Illinois State University. After working for two years as a receptionist, I got into education by working at Reed-Custer Middle School for a year and a half as a paraprofessional and volleyball coach. I then found a Master’s degree program at Olivet Nazarene University and attended for two years to get my teaching certificate. After graduating, I took a job at Sandwich and spent the last 21 years teaching English at Sandwich High School.”
“My husband Trent and I officially met when I was a junior at SHS, though I remember him kicking my chair from behind in Band my freshman year. We have two daughters, Rosemary and Audrey. Rosemary is a senior and Audrey is a sophomore at Morris High School and our world revolves around them right now, mainly watching club and school volleyball.”
“I’ve always loved English and every time I think about it I think of Ms. Bonnie Downes. She probably doesn’t know it but she inspired me to become a better writer. She used to make us write a set of 10 paragraphs and we wouldn’t be done until she had approved them. It sometimes took 5 or 6 attempts with corrections before she would accept them. I also remember sitting in Mr. Mitchell’s class junior year and we often talked about our futures. I knew even then that I was going to be an English teacher but didn’t realize I would take my own path to get there. Ms. Downes definitely set the tone and Mr. Mitchell helped solidify my decision through the discussions in his class.”
“I love being back here at Seneca and have no regrets. I have a sense of pride that everyone has here. The facilities alone make you feel like you work somewhere that is gorgeous. The people that helped convince me to interview speak so highly of this place. When there’s an opening at Seneca, it’s always the chatter of the teachers in the area. There were other opportunities in my career to apply, but the timing was just perfect for my family this time around. The students & community are awesome and I see myself getting more involved here once volleyball is over and my girls continue to grow up.”
“I want to create an environment where students can feel comfortable and relaxed while learning something. I think kids learn best when they don’t even know they are learning. I always try to convince them that we are in this together and I will do everything to help them get through the class. In Broadcast Journalism, I am hoping that they will be along for the ride to make it look professional and be something that the community can utilize. Even if students don’t plan to go into a similar field, I’m hoping they will walk away with a skill or a hobby that they can use.”
“I want students and staff to know that they can count on me and that I’m reliable. I want to help as many kids as I can. I am here for the rest of my career and want to become part of the culture.”
#TheSenecaWay ☘️