MEGAN SMITH, CTE Department
Q: What do you teach?
A: I teach Adobe Video Design and Adobe Visual Design
Q: What made you decide to teach Adobe?
A: I have a background in marketing communications and business. So my last few jobs have been [working with] communications and design. My most previous position was working for the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, and I worked very closely with the graphic and digital team. A lot of what I was doing was managing large projects and teaching others how to use different kinds of software, so it made me realize how much I enjoy helping people learn new things.
Q: What does your typical workday look like?
A: My typical workday I get off and check emails and start replying to students in Google Classroom or replying to their emails. And after that, it really depends. Every day is different. [Usually], in class we do PowerPoint lectures, Padlets, and lots of fun interactive group activities.
Q: Has virtual learning impacted your job?
A: This is my first year teaching, so I can’t tell you exactly how big of a difference it is. But I can tell you that there is a lot more chasing involved with working online, just because of students who might have technology issues or can’t come to class or students submitting a blank assignment because they thought they saved their work. So instead of doing things once you feel like you’re doing them three or four times. I don’t want to say it’s been negative, but it’s definitely been a challenge.
Q: Tell me about your educational background.
A: I have a degree in Business Administration and in Marketing. I received [them in] a local college in my hometown in Rocky Mount, from North Carolina Wesleyan [college]. Before I got my 4 year degree, I got a 2-year community college degree from our tech college. I’m a big fan of community college and a big encourager for doing that.
Q: What brought you to wakefield?
A: I actually lived in Cary, and I moved here to get away from my hometown. [North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences] definitely kept me here and wanting more out of Raleigh. I like the Wake Forest area, but due to Covid-19, I needed more stability. That brought me to teaching [here at Wakefield]. I eventually want to become a college professor at a community college, so I wanted to get a good foundation of teaching first.
Q: What do you like most about Wakefield so far?
A: The variety of students. I think it’s really interesting to see students collaborate and work together that are from completely different socioeconomic backgrounds. It’s really interesting to see them come together and put their differences aside and still be able to work together in a positive way and learn from each other.
Q: What do you like to do outside of school?
A: I grew up in the country on a cow farm so I loved to [always] be outside. I love any kind of state parks, state parks are probably my favorite thing to do. Hopefully, I can do a road trip next summer to California because I’ve never been so we’ll see how that works out.
Q: Do you have any crazy teaching stories?
A: I don’t really think I have any crazy teaching stories. The craziest thing that has happened to me so far was that I had a student report cyberbullying to me. It was interesting to have to flag it and make sure the assistant principal was aware of it. I definitely did not expect something like that off the bat. Otherwise, it’s been smooth sailing.
Q: Do you have any advice for students taking your class?
A: Communication, I tell them that over and over. If there is anything that is stopping you from being successful you should let me know about it so we can work together. I’m very understanding, lenient and flexible with everything going on in the world so as long as people get with me and let me know what’s going on in their life, I’ll try to meet their needs.