Grades/subjects you teach: 9-12 Agriscience Applications, Animal Science I & Animal Science 2 (small animals)
E-mail address: galew@chatham.k12.nc.us
Date, place of birth: Kenansville, N.C. (Duplin County)
Education: Wallace-Rose Hill High School; North Carolina A&T State University (Bachelor of Science degree in 1987)
Brief work history: Going into my 11th year Northwood Highs School; 10 years at Jordan-Matthews; also taught at Southern Vance High School, Wallace-Rose Hill High School and Lee Senior High School.
Honors/awards: 30-year pin — CTE Agriculture; two awards for teacher of the year, at Northwood High School and Jordan-Matthews High School.
Hobbies/interests outside of educating: Sad to say I have no interests or hobbies outside of educating youth. In my free time I check out other educational game apps on the computer. Other than that, just gardening.
Family: Three sisters and three brothers
What led you to a career in education? I have always wanted to be a teacher.
Who were your favorite teachers as you went through school, and what did you learn from them? My favorite teacher was my PE teacher and chemistry teacher. They taught me that given time, all children can and will learn. They were very patient with me.
Has becoming an educator been all you expected it would be? Yes, and so much more. During the summertime, I miss the kids (and student-)officers so much I would call them in for a workday at school just to see how they are doing.
How has education changed since you were a student? Class sizes are still big. There is less choices in curriculum.
What “makes your day” as an educator? When students I have taught have come back to me and say, “We talked about that in another class and I was able to add to the discussion.”
What’s working in schools today? Requiring students to be more accountable
What’s not working? High-stakes testing — given time, all children can and will learn
What’s your favorite memory of your first year in education? A student said that they wished they had my class all day long.
How would your “educator” persona handle you as a student? My educator persona would love me…because I would be the one asking “why?”
Best piece of advice for other educators? FIND YOUR WHY!
For students? Do the work required of you.
For parents? Continue to support their child as well as their teachers. Please check in with teachers if there is an issue.
What about your job would most surprise your friends who are not educators? That although I work weekends, I choose to do it. There is no other place I’d rather be.
If you could somehow magically instill one truth into the heads of your students, what would it be? There are no stupid questions. So ask questions!
When you think about today’s kids, you: They are in such a rush to get out of school because they think it will be easier, but it is not.
If one of your students was asked for a one-word description of you by a student who hadn’t had you as an educator, what would that one word be? Funny
Favorite movie about school or education: “Lean on Me”
How would you summarize your philosophy as an educator? “I am an agriculture teacher by choice and not by chance…” (The Agricultural Teacher Creed)
What five things must every educator know?
1. No two students are the same. They come from different backgrounds.
2. Communication is the key that makes everything work within the classroom.
3. Everybody’s got emotions (feelings)
4. We can motivate even the laziest students.
5. It is OK to build a good, positive relationship with your students and their parents. Set boundaries.
What’s special about your education space at your school? I have been blessed with a classroom, office, shop, greenhouse, barn garden area and a small-animal unit area.
What’s special about your school? The students. They are so diverse.
Most unusual question you’ve ever gotten from a student? “Do we eat the chickens we grow outside?”