As the year comes to a close, many students and teachers will be making preparations for the next school year. In addition, some are even reflecting on this year, such as business teacher Justin Lamberson, and English teacher Kinley Hamilton, for whom both this has been their first year at West. Both spoke of their feelings now that the year is almost finished.

“I feel great about the end of the school year and what we’ve accomplished here,” Lamberson said. “I think for my first teaching year, it was a very successful and eye opening year when it came to a lot of different things. I’m really, really proud of what I was able to accomplish and all the work that I was able to put in.”

Conversely, Hamilton had feelings of tiredness.

“I’m feeling slightly burnt out at the end of the year,” Hamilton said. “But I have a lot of things that I want to change and make better for next year. So I have some slight hope, but definitely a little tired after this first year of teaching.”

Lamberson also learned how to improve his lessons and classes in the second semester

“I think anytime that you teach the same class a second time around, you’ve been able to learn some of the things that maybe you didn’t know the first time that you taught that class,” Lamberson said. “So for example, I taught personal finance, which is a semester-long class, the second time this semester, and so I was able to incorporate some of the things that were successful last semester and identify some things to kind of do differently in the classroom this semester.”

Hamilton said that her first semester had difficulties, but the second semester became easier.

“First semester was tough, as far as being the person in charge and getting used to all the kids and meeting everyone for the first time,” Hamilton said. “So that was kind of interesting, but now I’m more confident because I know my kids better, and I know how to deal with all the different personalities in my classroom. I’m more confident in getting up in front of the room and just giving my lesson and all that good stuff.”

Both teachers highly rated their experience during their first year at west.

“On a scale of one to 10, I’d say it was an eleven,” Lamberson said. “It was excellent, I have great colleagues, great students, and feel very supported here at Bellevue West. So it was a great experience and I couldn’t have asked for a better experience when it comes to teaching.”

Hamilton also gave a positive review of her first year at West.

“I had some really good teachers in the department,” Hamilton said. “Some other good English teachers who have really helped me a lot, and that made it a very good year, so I would say four out of five stars.”