Briggs Brings New Energy to English Department and Students
Pioneer's newest English teacher brings a background in literature and editing to her classes.
By Liam Corcoran
Pioneer's newest English teacher brings a background in literature and editing to her classes.
By Liam Corcoran
For the 2023-24 school year, Pioneer High School has received a new edition to its English department, Sarah Briggs. This is her first year of full-time teaching, as she fills the vacant spot left by Chanel Sulc.
Briggs currently teaches sophomore English and English language development. With help from her fellow sophomore English teachers, she has been quick to adapt to a new working environment.
“Truthfully I’m still getting used to a new school but the students and the faculty have been so welcoming. Like I said I feel like we have a great collaborative sophomore team of teachers so that's been really nice as well as the students. I feel like (the) sophomore class has been amazing,” said Briggs.
Briggs decided to have a career switch from her previous job for a change of scenery and a chance to apply her literacy skills.
“Before I was a teacher I was a book editor for many years and that was really fun, but I just didn’t love sitting at a desk all day. So I decided to take my skills and get my teaching credential and my masters,” said Briggs.
Briggs has been able to develop relationships with the other teachers in her department, such as English teacher Stephanie Harvey, who has already made herself well acquainted with Briggs even outside of the work environment.
“I feel as though our English department is pretty inclusive. We often go to each other's classes for lunch or say hello and talk at break. Some of us have gotten together outside of school to hang out and get dinner too, and that is always awesome for getting to know someone at a more personal level,” said Harvey.
ELD is an English class that teaches non-native English speakers language skills such as reading and writing in English. English teacher Ashley Pham collaborates with Briggs in the ELD curriculum which they both teach.
“I look forward to working with her to create more comprehensive ELD classes. This year is the first year that Pioneer has offered more than one course for ELD, ELD 1-2 and, ELD 3-4 and 5-6, and that difference should help us better serve our students and their English journey,” said Pham.
Many of Briggs' students reflected positively on her attitude and composure in class.
“Ms. Briggs honestly might be one of my favorite teachers. She’s really nice, she’s understanding, and she’s just overall a pretty good teacher,” said Frank Fiala, 10.
Sarah Leasure, 10, another student in Briggs’s class, enjoys a lot of the things in her class and likes Briggs’s attitude and treatment towards her.
“I love that there is a craft station next to where I sit. She fist bumps me every afternoon after lunch (and) she has an amazing attitude,” said Leasure.
Harvey often takes inspiration from fellow teachers and is ready to learn from her new colleague.
“I am excited to see what strategies Ms. Briggs tries with both her sophomores and her ELD students so I can attempt implementing some of her ideas into my own courses,” said Harvey.
Akasha Cabidad, 10, another student of Briggs, enjoys the work space in Briggs’s class and overall has a positive view on Briggs as a teacher and a person.
“She’s a very nice teacher, pretty cool when it comes to our work space, we are able to eat in that class. I just think she’s nice,” said Cabidad.
As she starts off her new chapter in her career and life, Briggs enjoys the many interactions with her students and colleagues.
“I love the interactions as a teacher and I think students are the main reason as teachers why we stay, right? As well as my colleagues, I really love them,” said Briggs.
Briggs currently teaches sophomore English and English language development. With help from her fellow sophomore English teachers, she has been quick to adapt to a new working environment.
“Truthfully I’m still getting used to a new school but the students and the faculty have been so welcoming. Like I said I feel like we have a great collaborative sophomore team of teachers so that's been really nice as well as the students. I feel like (the) sophomore class has been amazing,” said Briggs.
Briggs decided to have a career switch from her previous job for a change of scenery and a chance to apply her literacy skills.
“Before I was a teacher I was a book editor for many years and that was really fun, but I just didn’t love sitting at a desk all day. So I decided to take my skills and get my teaching credential and my masters,” said Briggs.
Briggs has been able to develop relationships with the other teachers in her department, such as English teacher Stephanie Harvey, who has already made herself well acquainted with Briggs even outside of the work environment.
“I feel as though our English department is pretty inclusive. We often go to each other's classes for lunch or say hello and talk at break. Some of us have gotten together outside of school to hang out and get dinner too, and that is always awesome for getting to know someone at a more personal level,” said Harvey.
ELD is an English class that teaches non-native English speakers language skills such as reading and writing in English. English teacher Ashley Pham collaborates with Briggs in the ELD curriculum which they both teach.
“I look forward to working with her to create more comprehensive ELD classes. This year is the first year that Pioneer has offered more than one course for ELD, ELD 1-2 and, ELD 3-4 and 5-6, and that difference should help us better serve our students and their English journey,” said Pham.
Many of Briggs' students reflected positively on her attitude and composure in class.
“Ms. Briggs honestly might be one of my favorite teachers. She’s really nice, she’s understanding, and she’s just overall a pretty good teacher,” said Frank Fiala, 10.
Sarah Leasure, 10, another student in Briggs’s class, enjoys a lot of the things in her class and likes Briggs’s attitude and treatment towards her.
“I love that there is a craft station next to where I sit. She fist bumps me every afternoon after lunch (and) she has an amazing attitude,” said Leasure.
Harvey often takes inspiration from fellow teachers and is ready to learn from her new colleague.
“I am excited to see what strategies Ms. Briggs tries with both her sophomores and her ELD students so I can attempt implementing some of her ideas into my own courses,” said Harvey.
Akasha Cabidad, 10, another student of Briggs, enjoys the work space in Briggs’s class and overall has a positive view on Briggs as a teacher and a person.
“She’s a very nice teacher, pretty cool when it comes to our work space, we are able to eat in that class. I just think she’s nice,” said Cabidad.
As she starts off her new chapter in her career and life, Briggs enjoys the many interactions with her students and colleagues.
“I love the interactions as a teacher and I think students are the main reason as teachers why we stay, right? As well as my colleagues, I really love them,” said Briggs.