Welcome to Ms. Douglas's classroom home page...
(Ms. Douglas has taught high school on-level and AP English since 2001, and has advised many high school students about college and career tracks in the process. She is currently a Learning Success Coach at ASU Preparatory Academy in Casa Grande, AZ.)
A native of suburban Detroit, Michigan, I was inspired by my erudite English teachers (especially Mr. Briggs, Mr. Burger and Mr. McAskin) to pursue teaching as my lifelong passion. I worked full time at 3 jobs while I attended the University of Michigan, graduating in 1999 with a B.A. in History and English. I began student teaching on September 11, 2001.
Shortly thereafter, I experienced a health crisis that required major surgery, and it was at this time that I experienced my own personal epiphany. The Latin expression Carpe diem ("Sieze the Day") pierced my soul, and altered my perception: Life is for living, not just for surviving.
Ever intrigued by world travel and new experiences, and nearly recovered from my surgery, I boarded a plane to Japan - a land (and a language) about which I knew very little.
During my two years residing in the tiny town of Omuta in Fukuoka Prefecture, on Kyushu Island, I taught English to Japanese learners of a wide range of ages (elementary to senior citizen). My young students were mandated to learn their 3 Japanese alphabets, IN ADDITION to the English one! My adult learners were taking English as a 'hobby' - and my oldest student, an 84-year-old marathon runner, had a new inspiration every week in our class. His thirst for learning new words, expressions, and culture warmed my heart and humbled me. It was clear to me then that I have as much to learn from my students as they learn from me. I carried that lesson back to the U.S. when I relocated to Arizona from Michigan.
In June 2017, I traveled to 3 major cities in China: Qingdao, Xi'an, and Beijing. A compilation of my pictures and some narrative are on my blog.
I've truly relished being a lifelong learner, and I'm thrilled to enter this next year of learning and growing with my students.
A native of suburban Detroit, Michigan, I was inspired by my erudite English teachers (especially Mr. Briggs, Mr. Burger and Mr. McAskin) to pursue teaching as my lifelong passion. I worked full time at 3 jobs while I attended the University of Michigan, graduating in 1999 with a B.A. in History and English. I began student teaching on September 11, 2001.
Shortly thereafter, I experienced a health crisis that required major surgery, and it was at this time that I experienced my own personal epiphany. The Latin expression Carpe diem ("Sieze the Day") pierced my soul, and altered my perception: Life is for living, not just for surviving.
Ever intrigued by world travel and new experiences, and nearly recovered from my surgery, I boarded a plane to Japan - a land (and a language) about which I knew very little.
During my two years residing in the tiny town of Omuta in Fukuoka Prefecture, on Kyushu Island, I taught English to Japanese learners of a wide range of ages (elementary to senior citizen). My young students were mandated to learn their 3 Japanese alphabets, IN ADDITION to the English one! My adult learners were taking English as a 'hobby' - and my oldest student, an 84-year-old marathon runner, had a new inspiration every week in our class. His thirst for learning new words, expressions, and culture warmed my heart and humbled me. It was clear to me then that I have as much to learn from my students as they learn from me. I carried that lesson back to the U.S. when I relocated to Arizona from Michigan.
In June 2017, I traveled to 3 major cities in China: Qingdao, Xi'an, and Beijing. A compilation of my pictures and some narrative are on my blog.
I've truly relished being a lifelong learner, and I'm thrilled to enter this next year of learning and growing with my students.