Staff Spotlight

Staff Spotlight is Lockport’s way of bringing recognition to staff members who stand out to students, and who truly make a difference! Shining a light on these staff members helps take their acts of kindness and pay it forward by sharing with the community. Our first staff spotlight for the year:

Lockport’s Latest Staff Spotlight!

by: Ava Lamb

1. What is your job title?

I am a teacher in the mathematics department.  I currently teach IM2 and Math 2 Plus but have also taught IM1 and IM1 Honors.

2. How many years have you worked at Lockport?

This is my 19th year working at Lockport.  I was hired as a brand new teacher and have been here since.  I worked at Central Campus for 16 years and have been at East Campus the past 3 years.

3. Did you attend college?

I attended Illinois State University for my undergrad degree.  Since then I have also attended Olivet Nazarene University where I obtained a master’s degree in Educational Leadership degree, as well as, a second master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction.  

4. Did you see yourself working for a school when you were younger?

As long as I can remember, I wanted to be a teacher.  My mom was an elementary school teacher and I have always loved working with kids.  It wasn’t until my senior year of high school, though, that I decided that I wanted to teach high school math.  My senior year math teacher, who also was my high school volleyball coach, inspired me to want to teach math.  She made the class very enjoyable.  Since then, I have strived to be a teacher like her. 

5. What brought you to work at Lockport

I lived in Lockport since I was in 3rd grade.  I attended Milne/Kelvin Grove before attending Lockport for high school.  I loved going to school here so when I graduated from college and started looking for jobs in the area.  A position was posted here and I was so excited that I just had a chance of getting a job working at Lockport.  I, hopefully, applied and waited to hear if I would be called for an interview.  I was thrilled when I did get an interview and was offered a job.  

6. What is your life like outside of work?

My time outside of work is spent with my family, which I love.  I have four children, three girls and one boy, who are 13, 11, 7, and 6 years old.  My husband and I spend lots of time at each of their sporting events.  My oldest two girls swim competitively so we spend many hours at various swimming pools in the area.

7. What’s your favorite part about working at LTHS?

I love the faculty that I work with here at LTHS.  Many of my coworkers have also become my friends outside of school hours.  In addition to the friends that I get to work with on a daily basis here at LTHS, I love seeing students learn and see them “get it.”  I love hearing students tell me that they used to hate math but now they do not and many have even told me that they look forward to coming to math each day.  Those moments make all the hours of planning and preparing work worthwhile. 

8. Did you always like math? 

As a young child, I remember not liking math.  I remember crying to my mom after school about how math was so hard and I did not understand it.  But by the time I was in 6th grade, something clicked and it was not difficult for me anymore.  By the time I got to high school, it was my favorite class.

9. What’s one thing you have learned from your time working here? 

I have learned to look for the special qualities each student brings to my classroom.  Every single one of my students learns and makes sense of the world differently.  I have learned to not see teaching as solely being about teaching math but rather, as helping my students find their strengths and working through a subject that may not be easy or everyone’s favorite subject.  I have learned that I feel most successful when I can help my students realize they can do hard things and help to guide them in the direction that maximizes their potential.