After the sudden departure of one of Lovejoy’s most beloved teachers, many were skeptical about the transition of a new teacher into the APUSH classes. However, Ms. Tara Evans, who is taking over the AP US History classes, is confident that the transition will be relatively easy for both her and the students.
“So far, it’s been pretty good,” Evans said. “Mr. Conner and I are really similar, so it’s not like the students got someone with a completely different personality.”
Having similar personalities has proven to be a positive factor as the classes adjust this week.
“It hasn’t been that different, because they are pretty much the same person, just different genders,” junior Colby Knight said.
Although the timing was sudden, the swift change of hands has not left Evans disheartened. The announcement that Mr. Conner was leaving fell on the last day of the six weeks, which made the switch easier on both teachers and students.
“With it being the start of a new six weeks, not that there is ever a good time, but it was the best timing possible,” Evans said.
Wasting no time, Evans sprang straight into the new unit without hesitation.
“Luckily, we were just finishing a unit, so yesterday we went over some quizzes, and they took the test today,” Evans said.
The continuation of learning has been beneficial to the students from APUSH.
“I think it has benefitted the students this week,” Knight said. “They have the same chance to learn as before.”
Before committing to APUSH, Tara Evans was teaching freshman geography classes. Although Thanksgiving Break was only a week away, the decision was made for Evans to begin teaching APUSH immediately, and for a substitute to lead geography until the replacement teacher began after break.
“From what I could guess, since I was teaching with Mr. Conner already, and I’ve taught APUSH before, for me to just take over his classes made the most sense for APUSH,” Evans said.
In an AP class it is more crucial for a teacher to prepare the students for the AP test, while the geography class is entry level and can afford more leeway.
“Since it is entry level, the first social studies they will take in high school, it’s not a super hard class for them; AP is harder,” Evans said. “They should do okay, they are a good group of kids, so they will bounce right back.”
As for APUSH, although the transition may not have been a difficult one in terms of class adjustments, Evans is aware of the connection the students had to Mr. Conner.
“We are just going to keep moving, like Mr. Conner had been doing, so it won’t change at all,” Evans said. “It’s still a tough transition though, because everyone loves Mr. Conner.”
