Before Mrs. Douglas began her teaching career she worked at an online website for celebrities then realized it wasn’t for her anymore and then her husband suggested substitute teaching, which sparked her into her destined job of being a language arts teacher.

She said, “I was working for an online website for celebrities and I realized it wasn’t fulfilling for me. I was chatting with my husband about that and why don’t you try substitute teaching because I studied literature and journalism in college and tried it at Fords Middle School as a long-term substitute and absolutely fell in love with helping students. First, I worked with a social studies teacher and once I got into a literature classroom I knew that’s what I was meant to do. “

When asked about what makes a favorite teacher, Mrs. Douglas said that being able to understand students and understand the outside of the classroom they have and things going on, whether it be sports things with family, siblings, or maybe a responsibility we are unaware of. She also said, ”I just think being able to understand that kids have more going on than just school work helps.”

When we interviewed her teacher bestie, Mrs. Liastro is a history teacher at Woodbridge Middle School. We asked her why she thought Mrs.Douglas deserved to win Teacher of the Year. She said she loves her spin on teaching, including fun activities with lessons and strong connections with her students.

Liastro continued, “I think that Mrs.Douglas is incredible, I think that she is a great teacher. She really cares a lot for her students and does a lot of innovative activities in her classroom and really gets to connect with her students and they really want to learn from her and she deserves to be teacher of the year.”

An eighth-grade student, Stephanie Perugini, explained that Mrs. Douglas is a sweet and loving teacher. She thinks she is a loving teacher because “she isn’t aggressive on due dates, there’s not a lot of homework, she doesn’t push you too hard, and she’s more like your teacher friend more than a figure with more authority.”

Another eighth-grade student, Claire Burns, remarked that Mrs.Douglas is a very great teacher and makes her teaching fun. She said, “Well, obviously she is a very good teacher and she actually makes her classes fun and enjoyable and I actually look forward to being in class.”

Mrs. Douglas finally found her job and could never go back to being a reporter. Teaching is her happy place and its full of her loving students and bestie Mrs. Liastro. Mrs. Douglas said, ”Becoming a teacher is definitely what I was meant to do. I absolutely love this job, I don’t see myself ever not teaching.’’

Congratulations to Mrs. Douglas for winning Teacher of the Year, WMS thanks you for being the best version of yourself and inspiring WMS students.