Muskogee Public Schools teacher Janet Lopez is the Muskogee Teacher of the Month.
Mrs. Lopez began teaching in 2006 after homeschooling her boys for five years. Her first job was teaching at Midway High School in Council Hill, OK. She started teaching with Muskogee Public Schools in 2009. We caught up with Mrs. Lopez to learn more about her journey as an educator.
VYPE: What subject(s) do you teach and what grade?
Lopez: I mainly teach high school Engineering and Computer Science but sometimes teach Physical Science.
VYPE: What do you enjoy most about being an educator?
Lopez: Watching kids learn and grow. I love it when the students get those “Ah Ha” moments because it signals a learning event just happened.
VYPE: What makes Muskogee such a great place to live and go to school?
Lopez: Muskogee schools offers so many unique opportunities for students, opportunities that are not offered in any of the surrounding districts.
VYPE: What is the most rewarding aspect of your job as an educator?
Lopez: When students graduate and become successful, productive citizens in whatever community they have been called. On a selfish note, I also love it when former students visit and say, “your class helped me be where I am today.” Makes all the struggle worth it.
VYPE: Where did you go to college?
Lopez: LSU in Baton Rouge, LA. Geaux Tigers!
VYPE: What advice would you give a student who would like to become an educator?
Lopez: Make sure you have a calling to do this job otherwise it will not be worth it to you. If, however, you do feel a calling to be an educator, I promise, it is the best job on the planet.
VYPE: Who was the teacher(s) that left an impression on you when you were a student?
Lopez: I have two – Mrs. Gerard my second grade teacher. She was tough and strict but would was always there to help you be successful. Mr. Scott, my high school math teacher. He too was tough, but I learned more math from him than I have even in my college classes. Just a great, kind-hearted teacher.
Congratulations to Mrs. Janet Lopez on being named the Muskogee Teacher of the Month.
