The first week of school can be the most stressful for some teachers, but for Oxford High School English teacher Abby Prater it’s gone pretty smoothly.
Prater, a Lake Orion resident who was recently hired into the district as a part-time teacher, wanted to work in Oxford after hearing so much about it from her friends.
‘I applied everywhere and anywhere and I was so lucky to find a place that was close (to home),? she said.
Prater is teaching three different English classes at OHS this semester; freshman English, American Lit and Writer’s Workshop.
It’s ironic, though, that Prater didn’t originally go to school to become an English teacher.
The Grand Blanc native studied and received a degree in vocal music from Albion College, but decided she didn’t really want to teach music.
She then got certified in teaching English and sociology from Oakland University.
Prater did her student teaching at Lake Orion High School and also summer school in Bloomfield Hills.
Prater’s philosophy on teaching is to make sure she gets her students to ‘take ownership of their learning and figure out what they want to achieve.?
‘I think that it’s important for the teacher to believe in the student,? she said.
Prater lives at home with her husband, Jason and two dogs, Cheyenne and Sam.
Laura Powers is also used to her new home at Oxford Elementary School as a fifth grade teacher.
The 2002 Oxford High School graduate said she decided to become a teacher because of her fourth grade teacher at OES.
‘I’ve always wanted to teach in Oxford,? she said. ‘This is home.?
Powers received a degree in middle childhood education with a concentration in language arts and math from Bowling Green State University.
Powers did her student teaching with fourth-graders in Pemberville, Ohio before returning to Oxford. Her philosophy on teaching is to create a ‘partnership between students and teachers.?
‘It’s not I stand up and teach and the kids do what I say, it’s day to day we learn together,? she said.
Powers? 24 students have shown a lot of energy and enthusiasm and she hopes they’ll continue to have fun learning.
She lives at home in Lake Orion with her husband, Justin.