Throughout her 10 years at Centennial High School, Carrie McMennamin has become known as a leader amongst the social studies department.
She’s excelled at teaching all levels, from freshman classes to Advanced Placement courses along with a class for English language learners, fellow Centennial teacher Greg Stock said. Recently, she helped form the school’s social sciences honor society. And she’s always happy to share her expertise with the teachers around her.
“She has been a true leader among her colleagues in terms of organizing course materials, taking the lead on curriculum revisions and sharing materials whenever possible,” Stock said. “In addition, she has been instrumental in forming our social sciences honor society. She is a true asset not only to Centennial, but also the teaching profession as a whole.”
I find my work important because … our future depends on strong schools! Students need invested teachers in order to pursue their academic and professional goals, and our society needs quality public schools in order for our democracy to thrive.
I became a teacher because … I love exercising the creativity that is required to teach everyday. From designing curriculum to navigating the complex social dynamics of a high school classroom — a teacher never gets bored! Plus, I am fortunate to pursue my own love of history as I prepare and revamp my lessons each year.
My favorite/most unique lessons that I teach are … the lessons that place students in the position of a historian and those that encourage student creativity. For example, my colleague Mark Sikora and I have our AP U.S. History students explore the Illinois Digital Newspaper Collections to research local news stories from the 20th century. Then, students work in groups to write, produce, film and present a newscast based on their research.
My most fulfilling moments on the job are when … students take charge of their own learning and pursue a lesson or assignment with genuine curiosity. Sometimes this happens through class discussion, and sometimes it’s revealed through inquiry projects. Either way, when a student learns because they care about the subject matter instead of the grade, it’s a rewarding experience.
I keep students engaged by … showing a passion for social studies and allowing for student choice. When students see that their teacher cares about the material and gets excited to discuss it with them, they are eager to take part in the lesson. Allowing them to explore the subject matter with some autonomy can also inspire more authentic learning.
Something else I’m passionate about is … music. From the Krannert Center to the Rose Bowl, I love to go to live shows and support the local music community. I’m also lucky to spend a lot of time gardening in the summer, planting native flowers and growing a small kitchen garden.
My favorite teacher and subject to study in school was … I had excellent teachers, from Ms. Jefferson who inspired our imagination and identity as writers in first grade at Owen Marsh Elementary in Springfield, to Ms. Meneghetti who brought humor to the science classroom at Grant Middle School, and Ms. Negele, who gave students the responsibility and autonomy to plan, write, design and publish the Senator Newspaper at Springfield High School. At each grade level in between, I had incredible teachers, but history was always my favorite subject.
If I weren’t a teacher, I would be … a librarian! I have my M.S. in library and information sciences from the University of Illinois.
— ANTHONY ZILIS