Winter Reven

A professional shot of Ms. Marshall.

1. How long have you been a teacher at Santaluces?

“This is My 4th year at Santaluces High School.”

2. Why did you decide to become a teacher?

“Education was (and is) highly valued in my family. My mother read to me while I was in her womb, and I had a home library. I wasn’t the child outside playing and getting dirty; I was inside teaching my stuffed animals. So, my love for knowledge started early.”

“Additionally, when I was in school, very few of my Black and brown peers were in my classes. Being smart and speaking correctly was a “White thing.” It’s not “White,” it’s right. Coupled with that, I had very few Black teachers. Two inspired me, Mrs. Bernice-Brooks Jones from Citrus Cove Elementary and Mrs. Andrea Macon who now teaches at Santaluces. With all of this in mind, education was a selected major in college to fight the long-lasting effects of illiteracy. And, to normalize what we now refer to as ‘Black Excellence’.”

3. What do you enjoy most about teaching?

“I enjoy the students; I learn a lot from the students. I get to learn more about the world and how the world is evolving.  I’m not old, but sometimes I feel old because students change so quickly, so I enjoy the students. I enjoy being able to be creative because you never know what the day presents.”

“How I teach a lesson for one class might not be the same way I’ll have to teach it for another. I like being able to see my students grow up. I run into them in the store. I ran into one of my former students last week. He’s an Amazon driver now; he’s tall with dreads, so I like to be creative. I like that I get to learn from my students, and I like watching my students grow up.”

4. If you weren’t a teacher, what would you see yourself doing?

5. What do you like most about your subject area?