Samantha Fickes

Q: What’s the best advice you’ve been given about teaching? 

The best advice I have been given about teaching is that kids don’t learn from teachers they don’t like. I took that as advice because to build a relationship  with students is so important, and obviously if they don’t like you, they’re not going to come into your room everyday happy and excited. They’re going to be upset and then everything you teach them, you might as well have not taught them anything.      

A: What made you choose to teach at AAHS? 

I am from Claysburg. Where I live is the exact opposite size wise, Claysburg is very small. Altoona is close to my hometown, and it’s nice to come and leave my town and come to a bigger place.

Q: When was the moment you realized you wanted to be a teacher?  

I was like five years old, and I loved school so much, and I forced my younger cousins to listen to me while I taught them because I got to go to school and I could read and I could tie my shoes and they couldn’t. I thought I was better than them.

Q: What is your favorite part of teaching so far? Why?  

A: I would say it goes back to the relationships; I really enjoy learning about my students and learning their backgrounds, learning how they learn. I think relationships again are so important, and I think that’s my favorite part because some people think kids are kids, but you all have your own personality and all have interesting facts. I just enjoy having conversations and building good relationships with trust. I think that is the biggest thing I like so far. 

Q: Who inspired you to become a teacher?   

A: I would say my teachers I have had. I like to lead. Once I met my younger teachers I was like, “Oh, I like what you do.” Then it just became a dream of mine. Even though I could have chosen anything, it always went back to teaching, so I would say my younger teachers I had. 

A: What college did you go to?     

A: Shippensburg University 

Q: What do you enjoy doing in your free time? 

A: I am the manager at the Milky Way in East Freedom, that’s like my summer job. I enjoy golfing, going to sporting events like Penn State football games, going to concerts and reading.

Q: Why did you choose the subject that you are teaching? 

A: I interviewed for a position, and they said I would do well in this position. I chose special education because it’s a different, smaller classroom size and there’s more going on I guess. I kind of just got placed here. 

Q: As a student, I know I tend to get nervous for the first weeks of school. As a teacher in a new school, do you feel that sense of nervousness you once felt as a student?  

A: One thousand percent  yes. I would say I am more nervous than my students. I don’t know if it is nervousness or more anxiety of getting everything done because that to-do list just grows and grows, but yes I probably slept less than you on the night before the first day of school. 

Q: Is there something you would want to do during your teaching career? Ex: coaching a sport, head of a club etc.   

A: Last year I coached basketball and softball. I would like to start doing that again in this district. Maybe not this year, but definitely soon. I enjoy coaching. I wouldn’t mind being the head of a club or anything like that. I think once I learn a lot about my job now it will be easier to add extra curriculars.