THE ECHO

by Salem Araya

Megan Heiss 

What is your role at AHS? 

“I’m currently teaching one section of Current Events and then five sections of Geography and History of the World.” 

Where did you grow up and end up going to school? 

“Originally I’m from Elmhurst, Illinois, which is a west suburb of Chicago. I didn’t love any of the in-state schools in Illinois, so I was really looking at out of state schools. I just ended up falling in love with Butler University. I wasn’t originally set in Indiana, but my dad went to Purdue, so I just loved it so much.” 

What is your “why” for teaching? 

“I always loved history from a young age, but I didn’t realize that I wanted to go into teaching until about my junior year of high school when I applied to the cadet student teaching programs at my high school. I absolutely loved it, and it was very reassuring when I won Student Teacher of the Year Award in high school. So yeah, I’ve just kind of known for a while that is what I wanted.” 

How long have you been teaching? 

“I student taught my senior year so that was like a full year, and I think we’re coming up on full official year of me being an official real teacher.” 

What was your first impression of Avon High School? 

“One of the Avon recruiters came and spoke at Butler a few months ago, and I was really drawn and attracted to AHS just by looking at all of the statistics, how high achieving it was, and the growing diversity. I was really impressed. Despite the construction, everyone has handled it so well, and I could not have asked for a better school.” 

What makes AHS stand out to you? 

“I think what makes it stand out is my class. I just have so many different perspectives, like people in rural areas, immigrants, and people that live in the suburbs in my class. I feel like Avon is just like the perfect blend, and we all just connect under the A.R.E values. I’ve never met a school that is so diverse, and then so high achieving.” 

How does this school compare to your old one? 

“I felt like in my student teaching experience the kids really lacked intrinsic motivation, and it was just really hard, even when I did lesson catered to their interests, to motivate them. But at AHS, I found that the students are naturally motivated, and that’s really refreshing.” 

What do you hope to get out of this role in the long run? 

“I really just want to make every student feel seen, heard, and valued. Last week I had a great teaching moment in my geography class when we were learning about immigration. One of my student’s family immigrated here, and they said that they could really relate to the lesson. I was like, I make these lessons for kids like you, and its moments like that is what I hope to get out.” 

Brianna Temple 

What is your role at AHS? 

“I am currently one of the deans here at Avon High School. I support students with the last name KRV-Z.” 

Where did you grow up and end up going to school? 

“I was born and raised in Indianapolis, and am a Pike High School graduate. I graduated from Indiana University, and double majored in Political Science and Criminal Justice.” 

What is your “why” for teaching? 

“I wanted to work in government so I started at DCS in Indianapolis, and I saw a lot of the cases and situations going on for children. So, I said I wanted to make a more hands on difference in the lives of our youth, and transitioned to teaching. 

How long have you been teaching? 

“I taught social studies classes for seven years at IPS, Warren Central, and I ended my teaching career at New Augusta. I was an instructional coach last year back in IPS, and now I’m here!” 

What was your first impression of Avon High School? 

“I live in Brownsburg, and so I’ve known about Avon and the awesome things that are happening here. All of the records you all are breaking, and the awesome work that students are doing. I also have family that goes to Avon High School, and different schools within the district.” 

What makes AHS stand out to you? 

“I wanted to be closer to home, but I also want to be a part of something that is showing excellence, really making a difference, and accomplishing goals. It’s never a dull moment, and I am learning everyday. I appreciate all the students that greet me, speak to me, and I just love connecting with you all.” 

How does this school compare to your old one? 

“Oh my goodness, so AHS actually resembles my old high school. When I was at Pike, we had large classes, were very diverse, and had a lot of activities. Now, as an educator, our school is double than what I’ve experienced before, so it’s definitely an adjustment. But it’s a great opportunity to see the diverse needs, and diversity of our students and staff.” 

What do you hope to get out of this role in the long run? 

“I hope to just help make a difference. I want kids to be able to be inspired and impacted in a positive way because of the work I do. I want to be able to help students navigate life and know that they have someone that they can come to for anything. Know that I am one of your biggest cheerleaders as one of the admins here!” 

Elizabeth Walker 

What is your role at AHS? 

“I am teaching six sections of Economics.” 

Where did you grow up and end up going to school? 

“I’m from a little town called Brookston. I just graduated from Purdue this May with a social studies education degree.” 

What is your “why” for teaching? 

“I was really into Indiana Jones as a kid, and so I was like, I’m going to do that. I wanted to be an anthropologist but didn’t want to go back to school straight after graduating college again. But I did really like teaching, so I switched to education. I’ve always like history, and I just ended up getting certified in economics. I was like “Man, I really like this,” and that’s just how it happened.” 

How long have you been teaching? 

“This is my first year officially teaching with teaching degree. I was student teaching last year, and in the fall, I was a teacher’s assistant in London.” 

What was your first impression of AHS? 

“It was like the size of a college. I come from a town of 2500 people, so like to have that many people and then some was very daunting. But it’s very inclusive here, and I feel very supported.” 

What makes AHS stand out to you? 

“This was the only interview I had scheduled for Indiana, because I didn’t think I was going to stay. I was just blown away by how inclusive Avon was, the student demographics, the Blue Ribbon aspect, and what they students have been doing. I was like I don’t know if I can pass up this opportunity to work at a school with so much academic rigor.” 

How does this school compare to your old one? 

“I really came into this really scared that it was just going to be too big of a school, but it gives small school vibes. Everybody’s just so connected here, and supportive. There’s a lot of supportive here that when I was student teaching, maybe I was a bit scared or not ready to ask for.” 

What do you hope to get out of this role in the long run? 

“I teach seniors, and I love watching them grow as they head to college. They might be like my economic teacher helped me do X, Y, and Z, so giving back to kids and watching them grow makes me really excited.” 

Andrew Horgan 

What is your role at AHS? 

“French I, Spanish II and Ethnic Studies teacher.” 

Where did you grow up and end up going to school? 

”I’m originally from a place called Blarney, a small village in County Cork, Ireland. There’s a castle and loads of American tourists come to visit it every year. I went to the University College Cork in Ireland. I did my undergrad there for four years with a Bachelor of Arts and joint honors in French and Spanish, I also minored in Irish and Maths.”

What is your “why” for teaching? 

“One of my French teachers in high school really inspired me, and I just wanted to inspire kids in that way as well.” 

How long have you been teaching? 

“I’ve been teaching 10 years. This is my second year teaching in the US.” 

What was your first impression of AHS? 

“This place is humongous.” 

What makes AHS stand out to you? 

“I like the sense of community .” 

How does this school compare to your old one? 

“No comparison at all, this is a hundred million times better.” 

What do you hope to get out of this role in the long run? 

“I hope to inspire people to broaden their horizons and learn a new language – it’s crazy beneficial for them personally and potentially financially!”