The world relies on teachers; They are the foundation to building up the future generations. By doing their jobs, they influence generations and how the growing children will contribute to the world. Teachers don’t just teach kids how to spell, the area of a triangle, the fifty presidents of the U.S; teachers influence the minds of students. They inform us on past mistakes, address problems of today, and help prepare the generation that will be taking control as other generations age for fixing mistakes made by those before them. Teachers are mentors, they help shape kids into who they will become as a part of society. Every small teacher counts, teachers such as Ms. Hillary Galloway, a teacher at Greenwood High School, who work every day to make a difference all for their students.

Ms. Galloway is a physics teacher at Greenwood High School. She teaches advanced physics classes and started her career teaching chemistry. Galloway has taught for nine years in total, seven of which have been here at GHS, after majoring in chemistry and physics throughout college. Before becoming a teacher, she attended Garrard County High School, a small school where quote, “everybody knew everybody.” She took advanced classes and stated she was very involved in her schooling. “In school I was academically driven, and I had a well balance of friends as well.” She states, taking about how much she loved the environment. “I was in student council, plus I played golf for four years and softball for two years.” Before making her home at GHS, she taught for two years at Lincoln Country High School, where she enjoyed teaching because her courses involved being life-based with the science field. “Everything was real-life based, conceptual type stuff and it was easy for me to vary what I was doing.” For Greenwood, she favorites the freedom to teach the higher-level students. “At Greenwood, I really like teaching the higher level students right now. I get this perspective on the science field here, that’s different from outside of college.” But even though she enjoys her job, Galloway is not shy of her favorite and least favorite parts that come with the job. “My favorite thing about teaching is I can do whatever I want. If things are boring I have the ability to spice things up. If I wanna do something fun I just have to plan something fun.” She discusses many of her activities involving fun activities for her students that help them learn better. With that being said, teaching isn’t all fun and games, and like all teachers there are parts of their jobs that aren’t as favorable. “There are things that are hard with teaching. If I could figure out a way to never have grades that would be the best. Then everyone learn for fun.” People often seem to forget teachers don’t just live at school; they have personal lives outside of the classroom. Galloway has a three-year-old son, who she says takes up most of her time. “He is tough, he knows everything and nothing at the same time. Everything is the opposite of what you say so most of the time I’m just a mom outside of school.” Along with rasing her son, Galloway does a lot of running and she coaches robotics. Working as a mother and a full-time teacher, Galloway shifts from hobby to hobby in her free time. “I have un-diagnosed ADHD so I jump hobbies all the time.” She stated, laughing at her many different random hobbies. “At one point I got into riding motorcycles, then another time I got into knitting which was random. Last year I had a big reading hold so I read 18 books by the end of the semester. I just jump around a lot.” One thing she wants all her students to know about herself is that she’s extremely easy to work with and that communication is the key. Galloway is not only a teacher at GHS and a mentor to her students, but also a mother and a person with her own life outside of school that students may forget to acknowledge. 

Galloway teaches lots students on the daily, mostly advanced physics students. Many of her students really like her as their teacher, and speak fondly of her class and the experiences she’s given them. Cassie Bennoit, a junior at GHS, has advanced physics with Galloway. Her experience in that class so far over the last quarter has been very positive. “I literally love that woman. Her class is a little challenging, but she makes it fun.” Bennoit states, discussing her experiences of the work over the past few months. Jackson Nguyen, also a junior at Greenwood, says that he really likes Galloway as a teacher. “She’s quite a positive person. She makes the class really fun to be in, and she doesn’t get onto you a lot of the times. She’s controlling to the point where learning is still possible but you can still have lots of fun.” Nguyen also has advanced physics with Galloway, but even with the higher level class he still enjoyed it, stating the class is equal in challenging as it is fun. “I like that she allows us to have a lot of fun and have these fun assignments that aren’t just papers. We actually have labs that are interesting and unique instead of just the boring paper stuff.” Bennoit had a very similar response, noting that Galloway gives her class fun activities to do that help them learn the content. “The other day we did this amazing race thing where we ran around the school trying to solve physics problems. It was so much fun.” Both Nguyen and Bennoit agree that her teaching style is unique. Benniot added that even though it’s not what she was used to, she was getting used to it. “The work is my least favorite part of the class.” Laughs Bennoit, expressing that she particularly does not like physics. For Nguyen, his least favorite part is the energy of the class. “The worst part is definitely sometimes how the class gets rowdy.” Jackson added that he is most definitely contributing to the issue. “She can sometimes be too relaxed to where she prioritizes fun over learning. But I’m not necessarily complaining.” Galloway has left her students with fond memories of the class. Bennoit says her favorite part of the class are the people and agrees Galloway is amazing and makes the class a blast. “She’s like our little therapist.” Bennoit adds, telling about the times she sat and vented to her teacher. Nguyen spoke fondly of his favorite memory being the amazing race activity as well, explaining how they ran around solving physics problems. “We were just running around and looking stupid, but it was great.” Overall Galloway works hard to make sure her students have the best advanced physics class they can get, all while making their high school experience brighter day by day.