Spears strives to challenge students in fun way

Being patient and caring with students is one of many characteristics of West Florence English Teacher Travis Spears. Spears’ class has an atmosphere where everyone can be themselves and chill while doing their work at the sametime.

“Patience, [sometimes] more than you can muster; you need to be able to make complicated things simple,” Spears said about what it takes to be a teacher.

Spears said he takes his time with students and tries to be as open to them as he can, asking if some need help with their assignments and trying to explain concepts.

“The goal is to make them think about life and the problems given,” said Spears.

He tries to challenge students in a fun but educational way in the classroom, never having dull assignments to give out.

Interests and Thoughts

Spears used to play basketball during his middle school and high school years and was interested in other physical activities at the time. He was inspired to become someone who teaches other people with his love of World History and English.

Spears said if he didn’t teach English, he might be teaching other subjects in school such as being a PE teacher or being a director of a drum program/ percussion. He talks and converses with his students about school work and life in general, to motivate them. His opinions on the modern technology we have now is good; he said he used to have “a ton of papers” and that technology now makes it easier to manage assignments and gradings.

Spears said he holds his students to high standards which includes having academic integrity and responsibility. A few words Spears would use to describe himself are “cool..casual, calm, and collected.”