Fab Teachers

Jill Jellison

Cactus Shadows High School | English Language Arts, ninth and 12th grades

How long have you been teaching? I’ve been teaching a total of seven years with a break in the middle to have my daughter. 

What inspired you to be a teacher? While I always found myself in training and teaching roles in various professions, it wasn’t until I volunteered with Free Arts for Abused Children in Arizona that I had an opportunity to work with kids and teenagers. It was that amazing experience that inspired me to blend my love for literature and instruction to become a high school English Language Arts teacher. 

What is your greatest joy in teaching? I’m constantly impressed with the insight my students share and the growth that can take place in a single school year. While teaching is a responsibility, it is also a complete privilege to see students learn, grow and evolve as scholars and into the people they’re supposed to become. It’s incredible to be a small part of their educational journey.

What about the greatest challenge? The greatest challenges aren’t necessarily inside the classroom or with the students. I’ve noticed that in recent years outside forces such as funding, the current teacher shortage, increased work load and burnout is what makes the profession the most challenging. 

What if a student can have only one takeaway from time spent in your classroom, what would it be? I would love for my students to take away the feeling that they were each seen, heard and valued in my class. That it was a safe and comfortable place to learn. I also want them to walk away knowing that they grew as thinkers and communicators, two skills that will benefit them greatly wherever life takes them.