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Amanda Ratliff

Amanda Ratliff, Johnson County

Where do you teach? Johnson County – Johnson Central High School

What subject(s)/grade(s) do you teach? Chemistry – Response to Intervention

How many years have you taught? 15

Why did you become a teacher? The main aspect of teaching that appealed to me was the ability to use education as a pathway to encourage female students to pursue math and science degrees.

What has been the best part of teaching that you didn’t expect when entering the profession? The connections – I’ve always loved kids. I expected that. I did not expect these connections – to students, staff, parents, whole families, etc – to be as strong as they are. 15 years later and we still keep in touch.

What is one thing you wish non-teachers knew about what you do? The fun. Even on the “bad” days, even on the hard days, even on the days you want to walk away, there’s always a moment of fun. It may be your kids, it may be your colleagues, it may be the cafeteria/janitorial staff, etc, but someone will make your day fun. And when you see your counterparts living those bad days, you can reach out and “be the fun” for them.

What do you consider your greatest accomplishment as a teacher? The lasting impact. Those random emails, messages, DMs from students from years ago who take time to say “thank you” or because of you, my higher education was a little bit easier.

If you could have a superpower, what would it be? The ability to eat without gaining weight!