Get to Know Mrs. Harvey
In this article Mrs. Kelsey Harvey new to GHS staff as of 2016 and FCCLA club adviser from the 200 hall was interviewed via email by Crimson Post feature writer Josh Verduzco
What are the worst and best parts about being a teacher?
“One of the best things about being a teacher for me is that I teach Family and Consumer Sciences Education which are Career and Technical Education classes. Not a lot of people know about these types of classes. I teach very practical classes that teach skills for everyday life. I teach child development, foods/nutrition, culinary and independent living. The best part about teaching for me, is that I get to inspire students to learn skills they can use in high school and beyond for the rest of the their life. Another great thing about teaching is that I enjoy laughing with my students, having fun, yet making it a priority to have high expectations and respect in the classroom.
The worst part about teaching is all of the extra stuff, the behind the scenes stuff that students, parents or people in general don’t really see. Behind the scenes tasks include preparing lesson plans for each class, grading assignments/labs/projects/tests, attending meetings, answering emails, etc. It isn’t really all that bad, it is just time consuming.” - K.H
Why do you think some students think of school in a negative way?
“There are a number of reasons why students might think of school in a negative way. One reason may be that some students don’t see the value of learning at the high school level. They don’t really realize that there is a huge, competitive world out there, and the work and learning they do now will truly pay off in their future. It is hard to get students to think that way because they haven’t been exposed to the “real world” yet. Another reason students may think of school in a negative way is because they may get bullied at school or may feel out of place at school. They may struggle to have friends, a good support system at home, or a mentor they can turn to for guidance.” -K.H
What did you used to love and hate about high school?
“Athletically speaking, I played high school soccer all four years and we won the KingCo District 4A Championship Title, and in that same year we won the State 4A Title Championship, which was such a great memory. I also enjoyed attending my high school football games with my friends and dressing up to show our school spirit. Academically speaking, I enjoyed getting to know some of my teachers and they made a positive impact on my life. The subjects I enjoyed were Art, Life Skills, P.E. Biology and English. I didn’t necessarily like the drama in high school and all of the “clicks” everywhere. Even though I had a group of friends that I mostly hung out with, I made it a point to be friendly to everyone.” -K.H
What kind of town and high school are you from?
“For the first seven years of my life, I grew up in small town called North Bend, Washington, so I naturally like small towns. Then we moved to Sammamish, Washington which is on the Plateau, in-between Issaquah and Redmond. When I first moved to Sammamish in the early 90s it was a very small town, but now it is a mini city, so it has grown tremendously. I went to Eastlake High School, which is a 4A high school and it is prestigious and competitive, both academically and athletically. My graduating class of 400 graduated at CenturyLink field in Seattle (Also known as Seahawk Stadium).” -K.H
What do you think are ways to keep students enthusiastic and positive about coming to school?
“I think teachers should show how much they care about their students to keep them coming to school. I think students need to know how important their high school diploma is and how competitive our world is out there. I also think teachers need to create ways to make learning fun like holding contests or giving prizes to students that complete their work.”-K.H
What describes a winning mentality to you?
“A winning mentality are a set of characteristics that someone displays day after day. Characteristics such as, determination, positive thinking, responsibility, strong will-power, integrity, honesty, and respect. If someone has all of these characteristics, they can never go wrong in life.”-K.H
What did high school mean to you when you were in it and what does it mean to you now?
“When I was in high school, I remember wanting to try my best and my ultimate goal was to earn my diploma. I remember wanting to succeed in high school soccer and make a lot of fun memories with my friends. I do remember going through the daily grind of waking up early and some days it was a struggle to even want to go to school. I think in the back of my mind I knew I was going to get by and pass my classes, but I wish I would have tried harder or been more involved with extracurricular activities. High school means a lot to me and it always has. I feel that now that I teach high schoolers, I can relate to them because I remember what it was like.” -K.H
If you could warn high schoolers of a mistake or a few that you made in high school you would change what would they be?
“I would warn high schoolers to be careful who you hang out with and who you call your friends. You become who you hang out with. High schoolers need to realize that you will graduate and lead totally different lives. The people you now call your “friends” won’t be your friends after graduation. So lead your own life now and be confident. Don’t follow the crowd.”-K.H
What advice do you have for a student dealing with a difficult time in their life while still having to keep up in school?
“Don’t feel like you have to do it all by yourself. Ask for help from a teacher, let them know what is going on. So many times, I am willing to work with a student because they came to me to tell me what has been going on in their life and I am way more understanding.”-K.H
What do you think is something more students should keep in mind about school and our teachers?
“Students should keep in mind that most teachers become teachers because they love working with students and enjoy mentoring them. We are available for advice; we’ve been in the real world so ask all the questions now and learn all you can before you have to endure it by yourself.”-K.H
What made you decide to become a teacher?
“It’s a long story! Originally I was in school to be a nurse. I was in nursing school for one quarter and then realized I didn’t like it and I was too sensitive for that career. With my Associates degree in Health Science, I decided that I wanted to get my Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, so I did that while raising my kids. I then realized that I had so much experience over my lifetime that dealt with kids/youth. I was a coach, a youth group leader, a camp counselor, a lifeguard, swim instructor, and nanny. A light bulb hit me and I realized that I needed to go into teaching. I started volunteering at the high nearby, and I loved it. So I went back to school to get my teaching certificate. I realized that all of my education and my experience was very closely linked to Family and Consumer Sciences Education.”-K.H
What are the differences about the teachers you had in high school and the teachers you work with today?
“The teachers I had in high school were more strict, and there were higher expectations and they required respect from students. I think teachers today don’t require that same respect, and in return, the students aren’t being taught at home how to first respect someone if they want to have respect.”-K.H
What do you think are great opportunities for kids to do after school that would benefit them in the future?
“Students should get involved with as many after school activities as they can. It looks great on a resume and when you in an interview for a job in the future. A student really stands out when they go above and beyond. Whether it’s through sports, drama, choir, church, or ASB groups etc.”-K.H
If you were in charge of the district office what are things you would change or add to the way Grandview does it?
“I would take away the 5 day late policy. I would change it to have the student have one day to make up work for every day they missed; and that would only pertain to days that the student had an excused absence.”.K.H
