Sheri Guess is the new English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) teacher at Lively. She is excited to be at Lively and to be teaching classes she loves. I had the chance to sit down with her last week to get to know her better.
What is your name and position at Lively?
My name is Sheri Guess and I teach English as a Second Language (ESL) or we like to refer to it as English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL).
Talk about your Education. What degrees or certifications do you hold?
So I graduated from University of Texas in Austin and I have a Bachelor of Science in Communications. I majored in Radio, Television, and Film a long long time ago and I have had several careers over the span of my life. I started my career in movies but I ended up in education because that is where I figured out my passion.
What do you love about Lively so far?
So many things. First of all, I always wanted to work at a Title One school because I truly believe that education should be successful to all, and I know more than most that money can buy you any education you want. I think that’s terrible, so I always wanted to work at a place where they didn’t have as many resources so that I could distribute them to people who deserve it in the same way that people with money do. I wanted to teach at Lively in particular because my niece and nephew have either gone here or go here, so I was really interested in this school. When my best friend, Ms. Jennette Everett, came to work here, she pulled me along with her and last year I started working here in Language Arts and moved to English for Speakers of Other Languages. I love Lively – I love the culture, I love the climate, I love the teachers and the staff here, and everyone is so warm and welcoming. Most importantly, I love our administration.
Why do you teach what you teach?
Again students who are Emerging Bilinguals by and large have a much tougher time in the world in general. They definitely have a tougher time in school because there are not free resources created for people who don’t speak English as their first language, and I think that deficit is in our education system and that system is not ready for people coming to this country. I think it is shortsighted of us to think that people only speak English. There are many different languages in the world and my goal is to help my department and the district grow the program, so people who don’t speak English as their first language can learn it, but can also have resources for their language so they can learn and practice like other people.
What is the best or worst thing about being a teacher?
I think the worst thing about being a teacher is waking up early in the morning, and the best thing about being a teacher is and always will be the students.
If you could enroll in another teacher’s class at Lively to learn from them, what class would you take and why?
I would just go right across the hall to the Law Department. That is my personal hobby and obsession, so I want to learn from Mr. Horne and Mr. Galan and see what they do in their criminal law classes.
What did you do before coming to Lively?
So I came here from a charter school, Austin Discovery School, where I worked for the past twelve years. Before that I was in Human Resources which is like teaching for adults. I also worked for Whole Foods for twelve years and before that I was in the film business.
Do you have a dog or a cat?
I have two dogs, Lucky and Hopper. I’m allergic to cats so I have no cats, but I do also have a snake. It’s very friendly and he is a pastel ball python, so he doesn’t bite and he’s not venomous. He is nine years old and loves to sit around my neck and go traveling with me.
Do you have kids?
I have four kids. I have 2 daughters who are 18 and 16. I have a son who just turned 17 and another who is 13.
What are your favorite chips?
I have to say Cheetos. I have always loved Cheetos.
