Hi! Welcome to my Teacher Blog!
I am Mrs. Lindsay Riley, English Language Arts Teacher at Harrison High School in Kennesaw, Georgia. I currently teach American Literature and Journalism I at Harrison, but I have also taught Honors American Literature, Honors World Literature, World Literature, and Journalism II. I am the Student Council Sponsor, assisting the students with social and community service events for not just Harrison, but also the Harrison community. This is my fourth year as a Hoya, but I am on my sixth (almost seventh!) year teaching. I started my teaching career with Frederick County Public Schools in Frederick County, Maryland.
I was born and raised in Frederick, Maryland by two educators! My dad began his educational career as a High School Math Teacher, transitioned into School Support, then became an Administrator, and now is an Athletic Director/Administrator at the high school he started his administration career. My mom began her educational career as a First Grade teacher, taught Third Grade for one year, and then found her passion in School Counseling; she has been a School Counselor ever since. Both of my parents modeled how to be a teacher and an involved parent, and I forever grateful for that. All while pursuing their careers, they had me and my three younger sisters! Being the oldest sister really taught me the compassion I bring each day into my classroom.
Growing up, I 100% did not plan on being a teacher. Even though so many members of my family are teachers, and I absolutely portrayed traits of a teacher as a young girl, it never crossed my mind to actually become one myself. Ever since Ms. Six's Third Grade class, all I wanted to be was a Marine Biologist. I loved the Oceanography unit, and going to the Baltimore Aquarium only solidified my love for marine life. I truly believed that there was a cure for cancer embedded in the inner blubber of sharks; that was my goal - to find the cure in sharks and save humanity. I went through my entire high school career taking all kinds of math and science classes, and I only applied to colleges that had Marine Science programs.
As much as I loved marine life, I also found a love for Theatre in Third Grade. I began dancing at age four, and continued for fourteen years, but when I got the Theatre itch, that was it. I felt truly at home on stage, and in Tenth Grade, I became the person I am now. Mr. Nazelrod, my high school Theatre teacher/director, really encouraged me to just be myself, no matter what anyone thought, and I am forever grateful for that advice. It is advice I give to my students every year. My love for Theatre expanded into an interest in Broadcast Journalism my senior year. I was an anchor on Morning Announcements, and that experience truly peaked my interest in the Journalism world, but not enough to take Marine Biology out my mind. One thing I did know for certain is that I wanted to go out-of-state for college. I loved the idea of truly coming home, and it really did make me appreciate my hometown so much more.
In the fall of 2008, I attended Coastal Carolina University, located in Conway, South Carolina, as a Marine Science major. I learned very quickly that as much as I loved Marine Science, a future in the field was not for me. I became a Communications major that spring with a focus in Journalism because of the job I had in Athletics. I was a student intern for the Media Relations Department for Athletics, helping facilitate press conferences, editing game previews and game day press releases, editing biographies for athletes, and helping design game day programs. I loved that job, and I feel it truly prepared me for a diverse understanding of the Journalism world. I finally found what I knew I could do for the rest of my life. My senior year, I left the Media Relations Department to become the Program Director for WCCU Radio, Coastal Carolina's student-produced radio station. I graduated May of 2012 from Coastal, and decided to move back to Maryland.
The summer after graduation I accepted an internship in Sports Broadcasting in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. I learned so much about the industry, and sadly, no local stations were hiring at that time, so I decided to work for a local school as a Special Education Instructional Assistant. If I thought I knew what I was meant to do before, it never felt like this. Being around high school students and helping them succeed in school helped me realize that I had a passion for teaching. I especially loved being in the English classroom, and about halfway through the school year, I applied to Coastal Carolina AGAIN, but this time, as an English Education major to receive my Master's Degree.
June of 2013, I traveled back down to Coastal to begin my teaching career. The minute I started my education classes, I knew I made the right decision.
I am Mrs. Lindsay Riley, English Language Arts Teacher at Harrison High School in Kennesaw, Georgia. I currently teach American Literature and Journalism I at Harrison, but I have also taught Honors American Literature, Honors World Literature, World Literature, and Journalism II. I am the Student Council Sponsor, assisting the students with social and community service events for not just Harrison, but also the Harrison community. This is my fourth year as a Hoya, but I am on my sixth (almost seventh!) year teaching. I started my teaching career with Frederick County Public Schools in Frederick County, Maryland.
I was born and raised in Frederick, Maryland by two educators! My dad began his educational career as a High School Math Teacher, transitioned into School Support, then became an Administrator, and now is an Athletic Director/Administrator at the high school he started his administration career. My mom began her educational career as a First Grade teacher, taught Third Grade for one year, and then found her passion in School Counseling; she has been a School Counselor ever since. Both of my parents modeled how to be a teacher and an involved parent, and I forever grateful for that. All while pursuing their careers, they had me and my three younger sisters! Being the oldest sister really taught me the compassion I bring each day into my classroom.
Growing up, I 100% did not plan on being a teacher. Even though so many members of my family are teachers, and I absolutely portrayed traits of a teacher as a young girl, it never crossed my mind to actually become one myself. Ever since Ms. Six's Third Grade class, all I wanted to be was a Marine Biologist. I loved the Oceanography unit, and going to the Baltimore Aquarium only solidified my love for marine life. I truly believed that there was a cure for cancer embedded in the inner blubber of sharks; that was my goal - to find the cure in sharks and save humanity. I went through my entire high school career taking all kinds of math and science classes, and I only applied to colleges that had Marine Science programs.
As much as I loved marine life, I also found a love for Theatre in Third Grade. I began dancing at age four, and continued for fourteen years, but when I got the Theatre itch, that was it. I felt truly at home on stage, and in Tenth Grade, I became the person I am now. Mr. Nazelrod, my high school Theatre teacher/director, really encouraged me to just be myself, no matter what anyone thought, and I am forever grateful for that advice. It is advice I give to my students every year. My love for Theatre expanded into an interest in Broadcast Journalism my senior year. I was an anchor on Morning Announcements, and that experience truly peaked my interest in the Journalism world, but not enough to take Marine Biology out my mind. One thing I did know for certain is that I wanted to go out-of-state for college. I loved the idea of truly coming home, and it really did make me appreciate my hometown so much more.
In the fall of 2008, I attended Coastal Carolina University, located in Conway, South Carolina, as a Marine Science major. I learned very quickly that as much as I loved Marine Science, a future in the field was not for me. I became a Communications major that spring with a focus in Journalism because of the job I had in Athletics. I was a student intern for the Media Relations Department for Athletics, helping facilitate press conferences, editing game previews and game day press releases, editing biographies for athletes, and helping design game day programs. I loved that job, and I feel it truly prepared me for a diverse understanding of the Journalism world. I finally found what I knew I could do for the rest of my life. My senior year, I left the Media Relations Department to become the Program Director for WCCU Radio, Coastal Carolina's student-produced radio station. I graduated May of 2012 from Coastal, and decided to move back to Maryland.
The summer after graduation I accepted an internship in Sports Broadcasting in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. I learned so much about the industry, and sadly, no local stations were hiring at that time, so I decided to work for a local school as a Special Education Instructional Assistant. If I thought I knew what I was meant to do before, it never felt like this. Being around high school students and helping them succeed in school helped me realize that I had a passion for teaching. I especially loved being in the English classroom, and about halfway through the school year, I applied to Coastal Carolina AGAIN, but this time, as an English Education major to receive my Master's Degree.
June of 2013, I traveled back down to Coastal to begin my teaching career. The minute I started my education classes, I knew I made the right decision.