Many graduates of Texas High School leave with specific plans for their future. Some go off to college, while others travel the world. However, some students find their way back to their alma mater.
Jennifer Teeters, a former Texas High student, returns to her alma mater to teach English, continuing a long history in TISD within her family. Though she spent 24 years away from the classroom, this year she returns to Texas High and feels once again at home with her Tiger family.
“I began teaching at Arkansas High in 2021,” Teeters said. “I did four years at Arkansas High, and this is year one here for me at Texas High, and year five [of teaching] total.”
Teeters’s desire to become a teacher at Texas High began because of the inspiration of her mother, Linda Teeters.
“My mom is a teacher as well. She taught at Texas High School for 27 years, and then she’s [taught] at Arkansas High for 10 years,” Teeters said. “My grandfather always told me I should become a teacher because my mother and I are very similar.”
Teeters discovered her specialty early in her college years and pursued teaching throughout her career.
“English has just always been my strong suit. It was my favorite subject in high school. My favorite teachers were always my English teachers, and it’s always been what I was good at,” Teeters said. “Before I got into teaching, I had jobs in fields where I was doing things with words, either writing [or] some sort of communication, so it’s always come naturally to me.”
Teeters’ academic background and teaching experience reflect her love for English and all it encompasses.
“English is the only subject I have taught. I’ve taught some other electives that are still in the English realm, [like] creative writing, film in literature and ELA drama, but everything is under the English umbrella,” Teeters said. “My degrees are in mass communication, and my minor for my undergraduate is in English.”
Not only will Teeters continue the family legacy of teaching at Texas High, but her daughter continues to follow in her footsteps and attend the school as a middle school student.
“I actually graduated from Texas High School in 2001, so it’s my alma mater. It obviously holds a special place in my heart,” Teeters said. “I knew that my kid was going to have to be in TISD. I knew at some point in my career I was going to have to find my way back to TISD.”
While Texas High has experienced change in many ways over the years, Teeters feels at home, reliving her days of hours spent at the school.
“A lot has changed, but a lot has stayed the same. I’m just glad to be back here,” Teeters said. “It’s neat that it’s kind of come full circle.”
