It’s Their Job: Myra Skinner

Name: Myra Skinner

Job: High school math teacher at Dora High school.

Background: Skinner has taught geometry, pre-algebra, algebra II and advanced math for 20 years. She also taught at Three Way in Maple, Texas, and Clovis High School.
Time on the job: Ninth year at Dora

Q. Describe what your job entails?
A. Teaching the content of mathematics to students so they will progress and be successful in life. Some of the discipline is taught as responsibility, physical activities and learning that are necessary for life skills. She also coordinates dual enrollment at Clovis Community College and Eastern New Mexico University CCC (this allows Dora students to take college classes and earn college credit).

Q. What is a typical day on the job like for you?
A. The general makeup of the day is the same depending on how the students understand the math concepts and that affects how the entire class goes and where we go from there. The first class of the day has 20 students while the afternoon classes are smaller and under eight students.

Q. Why did you choose this job?
A. When I originally started I wanted to be involved with young people. When I was in high school I really enjoyed mathematics and this is my way of contributing.

Q. What type of training, if any, do you need for your job?
A. She has a bachelor’s degree in education from ENMU with a major in physical education and a minor in mathematics. It’s a state requirement to be certified in the area of teaching. Dora High school has professional development and these are workshops held around the area and state this is to keep apprised with the new techniques of teaching in education today.

Q. What do you enjoy most about your job?
A. The students, because each one of them are individuals. They have their own characteristic that they bring to the class.

Compiled by PNT Correspondent
Chris Romero