Written By: Isaac Julian, Staff Editor, and Simranpreet Kaur, Staff Writer in Training
LESSONS: Mrs. Phillips is a new literature teacher at Poly, set on providing her knowledge and experience to students.
The 2024-2025 school year has brought many new changes, including a new roster of teachers, eager to join the Poly staff. This includes one thoughtful individual teaching Introduction to Literature, (our 9th graders) Mrs. Phillips. She enters this upcoming school year keen on delivering her knowledge to each and every one of her students
Mrs. Phillips is no stranger to teaching English classes, having done so since 2002. For nearly half of that time, she has been a part of Riverside Unified School District for the past 11 years. While Poly may be a new venture for her, she brings great experience from years of teaching. “I always enjoyed school and the new experiences that came with it,” Mrs. Phillips replied when asked why she decided to become a teacher. School was always an engaging environment for her, even throughout her childhood, so it was only natural that she sought it out as a career path. She admits that she “enjoys the summer vacation” as an added benefit, as many students and staff do as well.
When asked why Mrs. Phillips chose to teach literature specifically, she explained that she loves hearing about people’s personal stories. She says that “it’s something that everybody has, no matter their background or upbringing.” By being able to share these unique experiences with others, she hopes that everyone can learn a bit more about their own lives. She is quite passionate about introducing new works of fiction to her students, as well as communicating the depth within them. Beyond simply analyzing novels, she emphasized that one of her main goals is to ensure “students can communicate clearly in the future.” She emphasized that no matter what one’s future entails, some form of communication will be necessary; she views this as a vital skill. Mrs. Phillips wants her class to teach lessons for a lifetime, not just to last through high school.
Though she is fully invested in her school life, Mrs. Phillips has many interests beyond the classroom. The curriculum of high school literature is quite rigid, so she has a unique taste in novels when it comes to reading for leisure. Most recently she has “been reading exclusively Indigenous authors:” Her most recent read is called ‘Wandering Stars’. She was invested in its embrace of ancestry and the way it emphasized one’s own family. Mrs. Phillips does have an interesting life outside of the classroom. She just happens to be a skilled professional pool player. Her team went as far as the Vegas nationals last year, placing 15th!
All in all, this new teacher is so excited to experience being a part of our high school. She constantly strives to make deep connections with all of her students, really emphasizing the importance of everyone’s personal story. Her knowledge will be beneficial here at Poly High School, and we happily welcome her onto our campus.