Jordan Dever

Teaching English

What made you choose Southport?

“I live on the South side, so it shortened the commute quite a bit and it was a good opportunity to be around like-minded people. With people who I think are dedicated to the craft of teaching.”

What school did you come from?

“I came from Speedway High School. It’s on the west side of Indianapolis.”

What college did you go to and why?

“I went to Marion College. It was not yet Marion 

University. I had an opportunity to play basketball, which I did for four years. It was the least expensive of all (of) the schools that I was looking at going (to), and I knew some of the guys that were already on the basketball team because I played against them, so there was a level of comfort ability there.”

Why did you become a teacher?

“Originally I became a teacher because I knew that was going to be the best way to become a basketball coach. I’m a teacher now because I really enjoy helping people. I really enjoy helping the youth find their way. I really enjoy providing guidance that a lot of kids need outside their parents or outside their guardians.”

Was transitioning to Southport hard?

“Not really because I had Mr. Hanley and Mr. Horvath, two guys that I knew helped me out a lot… The building being so big, that’s different.”

What’s your favorite thing about teaching?

“Having my former students come back (and) tell me things they remember I said to them, even though I don’t remember saying it at all. Getting the emails from them, getting the text messages from them after they graduate. It’s self serving. It makes you feel good about yourself that you helped somebody, or that they liked you enough to keep in contact with you. I’d say that’s a pretty good feeling.”

How do you plan on making this year successful?

“I’m trying something new. It’s a new routine of how we construct class. Providing kids with choices. Not only what they read, what they write, what they think. Allowing them to become independent. I have four senior classes, which I really enjoy. Trying to mentor them towards whatever final destination they want…. So I started day one with getting to know them based on the types of books that they liked or didn’t like. So from there, I’ve been able to recommend them books, give them books from my personal library, and I’ve had a lot of success already in the first eight days…  Maybe putting school second and their lives first.”

Anything else?

“I set a goal to read a hundred books this year, I’m at sixty four. The more books that I read the more likely I can find a book that you’re gonna like that I have read that I can say “here you go.”

Tanya Johnson

Teaching Spanish

What made you choose Southport?

“There was an opening, and I had been at the middle school for fourteen years, and I was ready for something new.”

Where did you come from?

“Southport Middle School.”

What college did you go to and why?

“Manchester University. I went to Manchester because I was actually from the town that the college is in, so it was close to home, and it was really good. It has a good education department in it also.. My entire family, we all went to Manchester.”

Why did you become a teacher?

“My dad was a Special Ed. teacher for many years and so I saw him in the classroom, and I just thought that looked like fun and then getting to help others, getting to help students develop themselves to be better people.”

Was transitioning to Southport hard?

“No, it’s been a lot of fun. Especially seeing former students that have grown up. It’s been a lot of fun.”

What’s your favorite thing about teaching?

“The kids that I come across and the kids that I get to work with. There are some amazing kids in Southport.”

What do you plan on doing to make this year successful?

“Trying to create new things with the new teachers that I get to work with. Having them help me become better working within the department.”

How would you describe your personality?

“I’m actually very shy, but I try to be outgoing in the classroom, try to have fun.”

Mariette Fleck

Teaching Home Ec.

What made you choose Southport?

She was in Perry Township for ten years and wanted to come back and her kids were here.

Where did you come from?

Whiteland Community High School.

What college did you go to and why?

Indiana State, because she had a full academic scholarship.

Why did you become a teacher?

She always wanted to become a teacher, and her sister was one so that inspired her to be one as well.

Was transitioning to Southport hard?

No, she has been in the district before and it was her fifteenth year teaching.

What’s your favorite thing about teaching?

It’s different everyday.

What do you plan on doing to make this year successful?

Getting to know her kids and helping them be engaged.

How would you describe your personality?

Flexible, easy-going, no nonsense, straightforward.

Nicole Duncan

Teaching Social Studies

What made you choose Southport?

“I’ve heard a lot of great things about Southport, and this seemed like the kind of atmosphere that I’ve always wanted to teach in.”

Where did you come from?

“I taught and coached soccer at Cardinal Ritter High School.”

What college did you go to and why?

“University of Indianapolis. I had a soccer scholarship there so it was mostly a factor of my decision to got there.”

Why did you become a teacher?

“I wanted the thing that I was doing to make an impact… either a small way or a large way.”

Was transitioning to Southport hard?

“Not at all. Everybody, faculty, administration, students, they’re all very welcoming so it was a very easy transition here.”

What’s your favorite thing about teaching?

“My favorite thing is that light bulb moment when it’s a hard-to-grasp thing (that) is reached by a student.”

What do you plan on doing to make this year successful?

“Putting in the work every single day. Making sure I establish those relationships I need to establish. Doing what I can to make sure every single student feels welcome in my class room.”

How would you describe your personality?

“I am pretty laid back. I’m also pretty sarcastic at times.

Jacob Fritz

Teaching English

What made you choose Southport?

“I did a maternity for Mrs. Osburn about three years ago, and I also did some different subbing as I was going through my masters of teaching classes and I really enjoyed the camaraderie of the faculty.

I really enjoyed how well they cared for their students, and it made me want to come back and be a part of that.”

Where did you come from?

“Before this I spent the last three years teaching seventh grade English at Beech Grove Middle School.”

What college did you go to and why?

“My first college was Full Sail. It was a film school, because I really wanted to be in the film industry. I came back to Indiana because I’m dumb. I taught television production and drama for two years without a license, which did not make me any money. So then I decided I needed to go back and actually get my license. So I went to the University of Indianapolis where I earned my masters in education.”

Why did you become a teacher?

“I have always enjoyed helping others reach their full potential, and I truly believe a firm foundation in the ability to communicate with others is how you obtain and keep your personal freedoms. Without it you’re going to be taken advantage of. I’ve worked with adults that don’t know how to read, and they’ve had their money taken away from them. They won’t be able to make their own choices, because they don’t know what they’re getting into. So for me, beyond the fact that I enjoy helping others, it’s about making sure that you have full access to the freedoms that we have in this country.”

Was transitioning to Southport hard?

“No. The students have been awesome so far as well as the faculty.”

What’s your favorite thing about teaching?

“My favorite thing about teaching is when a student realizes their capability on their own, and they find something of themselves that they didn’t realize before.”

What do you plan on doing to make this year successful?

“I want to be there for the students as much as possible and learn from them so that I know how Southport operates.”

How would you describe your personality?

“Mature, yet very passionate.”