Shuffling through the public school system from New York to Texas, English teacher Abby Williamson has dealt with all kinds of students. But after periodically checking for job openings at McGuinness, she finally saw a chance for a change of environment.
Williamson originally planned to return to Oklahoma in order to live closer to her parents. As a 2006 alumni of the school, it was the perfect opportunity to return to her roots.
“I knew [the public system] wasn’t going to provide me with the experience that I wanted,” Williamson said. “And because I’m moving here, I knew that I would want my children to go here.”
Williamson taught in four schools in New York City and San Antonio prior to McGuinness, with her experiences being “all very different.” She compared the student bodies in these past schools to McGuiness. She noted that the public schools in New York City and San Antonio had a more diverse population as opposed to McGuinness’.
“But I like being in a Catholic school…[and] praying at the beginning and end of the day,” Williamson said. “I find it really calming, so that’s been really, really nice.”
No school is without its flaws though. Williamson points out an element of the school that she believes could be improved. Despite using the floating seven schedule herself when she was a student, Williamson has a new perspective on it as a teacher.
“I’m not opposed to the floating seven,” Williamson said. “But the problem with it is that [there’s] just not enough time we need to have. If I just had a little bit of less work and more time, I could be a much better teacher.”
As for the most positive aspect of her McGuinness experience, Williamson describes the connection she feels with the rest of the English department.
“I feel like I fit in with them really effortlessly,” Williamson said. “It feels like I’ve always been here. They’re really supportive in general.”
