Rhonda Damron
This week our Cordell Blue Devil Faculty Spotlight shines down on Rhonda Damron. Mrs. Damron is the junior high and high school English language arts teacher and strives to broaden her love for reading and writing to each of her students. Her joy doesn’t just come from spending time with her family but also from expanding the minds of her students through research and developing their love for English. Read more below about Mrs. Damron and those who influenced her as a young child.
Can you tell us a little about yourself?
I was born in the Clinton-Sherman Air Force Base in Burns Flat and have lived in Western Oklahoma for most of my life. I have narrowed down my hobbies to reading, writing, sketching and performing light landscaping projects. Time spent with my family is precious to me. I am very blessed to still have my mother in my life and both of my children right here in our hometown.
What are your goals for the second half of the school year?
The second semester will be busy for juniors and seniors! Juniors are reading To Kill a Mockingbird, will take the ACT, and will wrap up their year with Edgar Allen Poe and a research project. To help keep the seniors focused, I’m revamping some units and implementing a new project; I’m looking forward to seeing how that turns out.
What has been your favorite moment from this year so far?
It would be hard to pick a favorite moment…
What was it that made you want to be a teacher?
Many of my relatives are or were educators. I loved to “play school” as a child and have always loved to read and write. Many people supported and encouraged me when I first thought about becoming a teacher and that convinced me I was making the right decision when I decided to pursue this path.
What subject/grade do you teach? Why did you choose that specific one?
I teach English! I love the written word! I can actually remember the “acquisition of knowledge” happening to me in Mrs. Freeman’s kindergarten class at Sentinel. That moment of dawning when symbols and sounds and the nonsensical alphabet song all coalesced into the letters of the alphabet and I was able to read! Mrs. Parrish was my seventh and eighth grade English teacher here at Cordell. She was like a tiny little general, and I was terrified of her – bur I learned! Whatever she was doing, however she did it – I learned in her class. I will never forget Evangeline!! These ladies are my heroes, and I strive to emulate them.
What motivates you to be the best teacher you can be for your students? What are your intentions when you walk into the classroom?
Learning never ends. I learn new things every year when preparing to teach my subjects, so I know this to be true. There is no end to the attainment of knowledge. My intention is that students receive sound information based on research in a way that can be understood and used as a platform to further their own education.
When you’re not teaching, how do you like to spend your time?
I love spending time with my family. My grandchildren are my joy! My favorite place to be is at home with my husband.
Do you have any advice for your students?
I just skim the surface, there is so much information available that I hope students take advantage of it for their own understanding.