By: Arik Shams
There is probably only one name in the Oak Grove School District that is synonymous with the words “math,” “calculus,” and “trig.” WELCH… Suzie Welch is the head of the Math Department at Oak Grove High School, and teaches Pre-Calculus, Trigonometry and AP Calculus. She has been teaching at Oak Grove for 25 years, ever since she first started with General Math and Pre-Algebra. While most of her students are only familiar with her rigorous homework routine and confounding test questions, an exclusive interview with the fabled Queen of Math revealed some interesting insights.
Suzie Welch grew up in Mendenhall, Mississippi and attended Simpson Academy, a very small local private school. As far back as she can remember she always loved school, ever since the first grade. She developed an interest in teaching in eighth grade, and her choices were narrowed to either math or English. “I was so glad I chose math… because I enjoy it and learned to love it.” As for college, Welch studied at the University of Southern Mississippi and earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from there. “I had fun in college,” she said. And contrary to common perception, she was not at all studious before her graduate years. “College doesn’t teach you anything about teaching,” Welch said.
Welch’s teaching career began in Oak Grove High School and has remained here as of today. She even finished her student teaching at Oak Grove. Her first years of teaching were very hard. “Trying to acclimate yourself to the pressures of teaching was very difficult at first.” About her most significant lesson as a teacher, Welch said “I learned about the ‘art’ of teaching… there’s always a lot to learn, and it can never be perfected, but I am working towards that goal.” Besides that, Welch speaks about the differences in teaching methods during her early years. Back then she used chalkboards, and had no graphing calculators. Now, she has mastered four different types of graphing calculators and any and all of her students already know about her expertise with a Promethean smart-board. “Apart from the technology, I also learned a lot about how to work with teenagers,” she said. But Welch’s classes often involve more than math, although just the math by itself is no doubt quite enough for her students. “Math is the hardest subject in the world… but it also teaches students to work for something, as well as good work ethic, responsibility, working with other students and being able to think… If the subject matter isn’t hard, then there’s not an opportunity to learn these life skills,” Welch said. And the opportunity to teach these life skills is Welch’s greatest reward.
Welch loves math, a fact only too obvious to her bleary-eyed early morning students, who fight to keep up with her seemingly unlimited energy and vitality. But there have been times when even Suzie Welch felt a few bumps along the road. “Sometimes I am extremely frustrated with some students’ apathy towards education,” she said. “But I don’t let that bother me or those students who are actually here to learn.” As for her brightest moments, she cherishes the feeling of appreciation when her former students e-mail her to tell her how she helped them go through college, or when a parent expresses his or her gratitude. Welch’s best advice to her students is “Do your homework, and always, always be nice and do the right thing. And if you don’t know what the right thing is, come ask me!” *ding*
In Welch’s “free time,” if such a thing exists, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, working in her yard, going to the movies, playing golf, reading, and restocking her supply of Animal Crackers (available to students for $0.25 per packet).
Suzie Welch has much recognition and several awards to brag about, although she will never be found doing so. This year she was selected as one of three state finalists for the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) – the nation’s highest award for K-12 math and science teachers. The awards program is hosted by the National Science Foundation on behalf of the White House. Welch was nominated for the award last year by former colleague Ann Sullivan. Ann Sullivan was a recipient of the PAEMST in 2005. Welch had to complete an extensive application process to evaluate her performance as a teacher. The teachers selected for the national award receive $10,000, a presidential citation, and a trip to Washington, D.C. State finalists were recognized on February 19, 2010, by the Mississippi State Board of Education at an awards ceremony in Jackson. As for Welch’s feelings, she said she felt very honored and proud, and like “a queen for a day.” Welch is hopeful for the national award and without a doubt, deserves it.
