News
Faculty Focus: Tiffany Simms '03
Classes: 6th Grade Global Cultures and 9th Grade Human Geography
Cocurricular Involvement: I am the Slime Club Sponsor, and I make a point to see at least one game or performance of all my students throughout the year!
Cocurricular Involvement: I am the Slime Club Sponsor, and I make a point to see at least one game or performance of all my students throughout the year!
Q. What was your path to teaching? Did you always know you wanted to be a teacher?
A. I did not always want to be a teacher. I like to tell my students I’m still trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up, even after 18 years as a teacher! I earned a double major in history and geography at the University of Tennessee, and most of my friends with similar majors went on to law school, but I could not see myself as a lawyer. To my surprise, even with those degrees, my options of career choices were quite slim. Nonetheless, teaching has really worked out for me because I found a path where I was able to teach interesting topics to diverse people and get to travel at the same time. Teaching at international schools around the world has helped to mold me into the person (and teacher!) I am today, and I couldn’t imagine my life any differently.
Q. What do you love most about teaching at GPS?
A. I love the girls’ enthusiasm for learning. They soak up the information like sponges and are so curious to learn more. I also really appreciate the openness of the curriculum and being able to include many of my own experiences, stories, and photos from the years I spent teaching in other countries and traveling the world.
Q. What’s it like to be back at your alma mater as a teacher? Do you see similarities? Differences?
A. Honestly, I never imagined I would ever be back here, but the world works in mysterious ways, and I am happy to be part of the GPS community once again. I do a project in Global Cultures with my sixth-graders where they interview GPS graduates to learn about the ‘culture’ of GPS. Every year, this project brings back so many memories and connections. I couldn’t imagine myself teaching anywhere else!
Q. Do you remember what your Chapel Talk was about?
A. My chapel talk was all about my sister, Priscilla Simms-Roberson ‘00, and how I have looked up to her my entire life. Everything I said is still true to this very day!
Q. As a middle school teacher, you see a lot of growth in students. What is that like?
A. This is my favorite part of being a teacher. As I said above, the girls are like sponges, and when their eyes fill with wonder and those ‘ah-ha’ moments happen, it’s the best feeling in the world! I took a group of middle school girls to the country of Panama this past summer, and to see their independence and curiosity blossom in just eight days was an inspiration.
To learn more about academics at GPS, click here.
