Hillary Gollis
5th Grade General Studies
Years as a teacher: 30
Years at LGA: 19
Why did you become a teacher?
Because I loved working with kids and studying literature, and I had several teachers who were very important in my life.
What do you love about teaching at LGA?
I love so many things about teaching here: the support, the community, the freedom I have in my teaching, and the connection to Judaism.
I love how much we sing at this school, and the variety of songs, from silly to political, and everything in between.
Coaching the school’s ultimate team is also way up there for me.
What is your favorite subject to teach and why?
Literature! Because you get to share amazing stories and ideas with kids and support them to learn more about themselves, each other and the world. I especially love introducing tough issues through literature and facilitating discussions in response.
Lit circles are one of my favorite activities in the classroom. Not only do kids get to choose the books they read, but then they get to choose a response project. There’s a lot of autonomy for students, and more space from the teacher.
What do you hope your students will learn from you as they move on to the next year?
I think I help my students to better understand themselves and their role in their classroom community. I believe a strength of mine is helping students comfortably identify their personal areas of strength as well as the places they especially need to grow, and I create a safe and fun space to do this.