A typical day for Lisa Stanfill starts with a slow drive to school where she meets all of the tasks she has to complete by the end of the day. Before she finishes her run-through, her first class arrives.
Despite the surrounding energy, she feels slow like most others at 7:00 am; nevertheless, she puts on a smile and directs her students to their everyday assignment. She starts with a problem on the board to practice material that the students will be tested on later.
“I have always enjoyed teaching,” Stanfill said. “I started out with a teaching style similar to my favorite high school teachers.”
She finds planning lessons that are easy for her students to comprehend inspiring. She has a kind heart and loves to help the students who are struggling.
“To create a lesson plan, I start with the problems I want my students to be able to complete in the end,” Stanfill said. “I go step-by-step and make a plan for how I want to introduce each new topic.”
If any student has a question or needs guidance, she is there to help. She tries to involve the class and train the minds of her students to find solutions as a team, which she finds important.
“When I had children of my own, the way I interact with students changed,” Stanfill said. “Afterwards, I looked at my students as if they were one of my own.”
She talks about her experiences in public school. She knows what it’s like to feel isolated and confused; nevertheless, effort is needed to ensure that the students get the education they need.
“I feel like I am able to reach the needs of the students who are regularly present and attentive,” Stanfill said. “I struggle meeting the needs of virtual and frequently absent/otherwise occupied students.”
During all of this, she is doing all of her other tasks her job entails. At the end of the day, after dealing with hundreds of high school students, she continues to do her after school work until she decides that she is tired and ready to relax.
“After school I sum up and organize the day’s activities,” Stanfill said. “Then, I prepare lessons for the next day.
Following work, she goes home to do more inescapable duties. She doesn’t enjoy doing chores, but according to her, it’s necessary.
“After school I usually go for a run, cook dinner and do any chores on my to-do list,” Stanfill said. “My husband, John, works as a firefighter battalion chief for North Collier.”
She eats dinner with her husband two out of seven days. When she eats dinner with her husband, they discuss their day with each other. They have two children, Josh, 22, and Emily, 21.
“Both of my kids work at Publix,” Stanfill said. “They hope to graduate from FGCU next year.”
Their conversation helps her as she relaxes from her stress from the school day. Shel also tries to discuss her mental health because it’s always been a big part of her life.
“I try not to let students’ opinions affect me,” Stanfill said. “Eventually, I want them to realize that I try my absolute hardest to help them out and allow them their rightful opportunities to learn.”
