Ms. Tippett is one of the many hard-working teachers in Northport High School who will be retiring this year. I had the chance to talk to her about her time at Northport and what she loves the most.

Q: How long have you been teaching?

A: I have been teaching for 25 years.  I taught English for two years part-time before I began teaching English as a New Language.

Q: Have you worked in any other schools?

A: I began my career as an ENL teacher at Ocean Avenue School and Norwood Avenue School. I also worked as an ENL teacher in the Elwood School District for a couple years before returning to Northport and taking my current position as an ENL teacher here, at Northport High School, where I’ve been teaching for the past 20 years.

Q: How has your early teaching jobs influenced your teaching style?
A: Teaching has always been my dream career. I went back to college when my children started school and finished my B.A. and M.A. when most teachers were in the middle of their careers. I am fortunate to have fulfilled my dream and work with so many unforgettable people – colleagues and students alike. My career has helped me to develop a truly global perspective. Over my past 23 years teaching ENL, my classroom has been quite culturally diverse, with students from all continents. I’ve taken a mini-trip around the world without even boarding a plane.

Q: What is the biggest change in education you have noticed from when you started to now?

A: The biggest change in education I’ve noticed is the implementation of technology in the classroom. When I started teaching at NHS, we took attendance on scantron sheets, and I used to translate the comments on the ENL students’ report cards into their native languages by hand!  Clearly technology is an important and valuable asset to our lives in and out of the classroom, but I still enjoy turning the page of a book when I read for pleasure.

Q: What is your proudest teaching moment?

A: My proudest teaching moment is seeing my students graduate. Coming to a new country and entering a classroom where everything is taught in a new language requires a lot of courage and commitment. I’m also proud when I see my students working outside of school in our community. I’m happy that I’ll see them around town, even after I leave NHS.

Q: What will you miss the most?

A: What I will miss the most are my colleagues and meeting new students as they start their NHS journey. But I take many memories with me and look forward to creating new memories in retirement. What I won’t miss is setting an alarm clock!