by Wren Pyle

Mrs. Piper is an English teacher who is greatly admired throughout Palisades High School. Many students enjoy her down-to-Earth and compassionate personality in English and Creative Writing classes. But, it might surprise you to know that she did not plan on being a teacher originally. Luckily for Palisades, her love for reading and writing brought her to teaching. 

Mrs. Piper’s path to Palisades took some twists and turns. She originally went to school for fashion design, but with further experience decided that fashion was not what she wanted in a career. She started her post secondary education at Temple University for her undergraduate degree, then moved to San Diego University, specifically so she could play water polo. After, she moved back to Pennsylvania and got her Master’s degree at Temple. Later on, she decided to get her principal certification at Lehigh University. She decided to get certified because of an administrator on the board who was very inspiring to her. Through the experience, she noticed there was a lot to consider that made her a better teacher. 

Her teaching career didn’t begin at Palisades. Mrs. Piper’s career as a teacher first started in Philadelphia. She later on moved back out to California. When asked about educational differences in Pennsylvania and California, Mrs. Piper said that the schooling in California is much different. California schools had a much different lay out. The schools were almost like an outside campus. Students were also seen outside a lot more as well as eating lunch outside. The schools are also much more laid back and casual. Teachers do not dress up as fancy.  

When she isn’t here at school improving our writing skills, Mrs. Piper likes to read as well as make clothes, using her past education in fashion design. She said when a big event is coming up for one of her kids or herself, she will make an outfit for the event. Besides making clothing, you can also find Mrs. Piper reading a book or enjoying time outside. 

Palisades students are what gets Mrs. Piper through the door every morning. She said that she loves being in the classroom with students and talking to them about reading and their real world connections. Many students are able to connect with Mrs. Piper because they feel like they can trust her and that she does not hold her students to mistakes that they have made.