Congratulations to Ms. Pam Gaskill for being awarded the title of Teacher of the Year for WSHS. Ms. Gaskill has been teaching at WSHS for over 20 years. She teaches AP English language and Composition, AP Capstone, and is one of the Student Government Coordinators. 

Ms. Gaskill granted the Bear Truth with a Q & A interview.

How long have you been teaching?

20 years; this is my 21st year. All at WSHS 🙂

What are some of your fondest memories in your teaching career?

The moments when we’re discussing an intense piece of literature or writing in class – and the conversation begins to reveal how deeply it is affecting students – from Orwell’s 1984 when I taught 10th grade – and Winston’s “Victory Gin teardrop and feet marching” to Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave” and the responsibility to travel back into the darkness to enlighten others to Jake’s utterance of “Isn’t it pretty to think so?” in The Sun Also Rises.  The most fulfilling moments lie within teaching that the human condition – the experience of life – is so different across the world and yet so similar. 

What advice would you give to a new or aspiring teacher?

Go north young friend. Go to where you’re respected and can afford to live. There have been times I’ve considered walking away; I even took some classes to pursue a new career – but the classroom always called me back. The ability to teach about rhetoric, and how words connect and depend on one another to achieve a purpose – superseded my ability to walk away. Looking back, while I do not regret my choices, I do wish I had successfully persuaded my husband Florida was not the best place for us career-wise. The stripping of autonomy in the classroom, politicians and school officials distrusting teachers to be the experts they have trained and studied to be – it’s not worth the heartache. Move. Move to a state that protects and values education. Move to a state that values knowledge to fight against ignorance and censorship. The idea that you can fight from within and make a change in Florida schools is exhausting and deflating. The fight is almost impossible with the new laws and push for following a strict framework that stifles learning. I succeed in the classroom because I teach the texts and literature I love. I know the standards, I know writing, I know reading. I know how to break it down for students to see the beauty and nuance in the gray areas of a text. I convey my passion for language through a myriad of texts that embody the human spirit. Students engage because I engage. I teach what I love, and I invite students to love it (or hate it) as well. And if you feel like you can’t do that in Florida – then leave. Go to a state where you can live on a paycheck and share the subject you love. These places DO exist. They’re just north of here. 

What should a student know to succeed in AP Lit or Lang?

You have to try. You have to be willing to take risks and ask questions. You have to be ready to learn. You have to be present and work for every class period. I will challenge you to write and speak at a level that has not been expected of you for a couple of years. 

What hobbies/interests do you have outside of school?

I love spending time with my family. I enjoy gardening and working outside. Typically, you’ll find if I’m not at the soccer field on Saturday – or at a UCF football game, I’m working on a home project with my husband. 

Truly, Ms. Gaskill is committed to education and we at the Bear Truth congratulate her on being named Teacher of the Year at WSHS.