Chapter 13

Six months later, the last requirement for his teaching certificate was a semester of student teaching under a supervising mentor. He was assigned to Roosevelt High School under the guidance of Margaret Reeves, a twenty-year veteran of the Seattle Public Schools. She taught history and civics.

“I’ve heard good things about your substitute teaching from my friends over at Capitol Hill,” Margaret told him during their first meeting. “But there’s a big difference between managing a classroom for a day and building curriculum, assessing learning, and developing relationships with students over months. Are you ready for that level of commitment?”

“Yes. I know I enjoy teaching. I’m here to get better at it.”

Margaret was a compact woman in her late forties with graying hair and the kind of quiet authority that came from years of managing adolescent chaos. Her classroom was organized yet lived-in, with historical maps covering the walls and student projects displayed prominently. Her lesson plans were a miracle of organization. She ran her classes like well-oiled machines, infused with warmth and humor that kept students engaged.