About a week ago I had an opportunity to sit with Ms. Pray. She is an awesome person. Did you know that Ms. Pray and her twin sister both teach Family and Consumer Science classes?  Keep reading to find out even more about the wonderful Ms. Pray!

Interviewer: Haileigh Prill

Interviewee: Ms. Pray

What do you teach and what grades do you teach?

I teach the 8th-grade culinary arts class and the 7th-grade class, Careers in Hospitality and Design. That class entails interior design, sewing, and cooking. 

What is it like being a new teacher?

Honestly, I always hear from other teachers that teaching is so much different and harder now. But I don’t really feel much of a difference. So it’s actually been really nice because this is all I know. I just learn and adjust as I go. But it’s been very good, this first year has been amazing. 

What was it like student teaching?

Student teaching was a lot different at first, obviously, I had Mrs. Watts with me in the classroom the whole time. I was doing everything she was asking, but now I get to create my own stuff. I can run my classroom how I want. Student teaching was way different in certain ways. But I would say it’s better to have my own classroom. 

So, how different was it being a student teacher than the actual teacher?

When I was in the depths of student teaching, I was basically the teacher. Quarter 4 was all me. I still had the support of Mrs. Watts but now I don’t have that extra piece of support. Since I was basically teaching 4th quarter it feels the same as now. 

Were you originally looking into taking Mrs. Watt’s spot after she retired?

Oh, yeah. I knew that when I student-taught. Originally I was supposed to student-teach in a high school; I was the only one in my college who student taught at a middle school. They asked how I felt about middle school and I said give me middle school because I wanted that level. They ended up telling me that there was an opening in Saint Charles and that the teacher whom I would student-teach with was retiring the next year. I knew in the back of my mind about that and I kept hoping I would get that position.

What got you interested in teaching FACs? 

So, I changed my major a couple of times. Originally my major was for an elementary school ED teacher. But I wasn’t sure if I wanted to work with kids that young. Then I changed my major to teaching math and science high school classes. I was sitting in my first math class in college and was like… “Man, I do not want to teach math for the rest of my life.” So as I tried to figure out what I wanted to major in again, I realized that I loved learning about FACs in middle school and high school, I had such a great relationship with those teachers as well. I also realized that it would be fun to teach. I started to look into it and instantly fell in love. Taking the new classes for FACs was so much fun.

What would you say is the hardest part about teaching?

I would say, probably, the amount of kids in my class. Like for sewing, there could be 28 kids in that class, chopping things up, and it’s hard to keep track of everything with so many kids. So that’s probably the hardest thing, the amount of kids in the kitchen. Another hardest part about being a teacher in general is learning everyone’s names.

What is your favorite grade to teach? Like what one do you prefer?

I would probably say… Well, I don’t really know.  With seventh grade, I can do a little bit more, like interior design, cooking, and sewing. I just don’t know if I could answer that, I love them all. They are different in their own ways.

What is the most important thing you learned this year?

How to control the classroom. Especially when we started in the kitchen, I had to learn how to take my time at the beginning of every quarter. I needed to learn with the students so that they understood a little bit more. 

Now that you teach FACs, do you have any foods that you prefer to make that Mrs. Watts did not? 

Basically, I started off with her recipes. I was learning what kids enjoyed making and what they didn’t enjoy making. I’ve already changed some of the labs and I’ve added some labs that she never did. If the students like the new recipes, I keep doing them. I just try to make sure that whatever I am teaching shows the same process. 

What is it like being a young teacher? 

I think it’s pretty cool. I get to relate to you guys a little bit more. I like that because I don’t think that other teachers understand some of the things you guys say or do. But I understand most of the time. I am 23, only 10 or so years difference. 

What is your favorite food to make in general?

My favorite is probably homemade pizza. 

Do you use the same skills at home that you teach to the kids here?

100%, yep. Everything that I teach here, I use at home. 

Do you have any siblings? And if so how many?

I do. I have an older brother. He is 2 years older than me. I also have a twin sister.

I heard that your twin sister does the same thing that you do.

She does! But it’s a little different. With FACs, there is a huge range of classes we can teach. She actually teaches child development, which obviously, I don’t. She also teaches a food one class and a preschool class as well. She teaches in a high school instead of a middle school.

What do you like to do outside of school? Do you have any other hobbies?

I like going to the gym. I try to go every day. I enjoy baking and cooking. Besides that, I am always with friends and family and hanging out with them.

Do you like Taylor Swift?

I wouldn’t really call myself a swifty. But I do like Taylor Swift. I like her older stuff, like when she was more country.

I hope you enjoyed reading this new edition of The Hawk Talk. If you have any recommendations for future interviews make sure to leave a comment!