Annie Sisler is passionate about teaching English. “My goal is for my students to become better readers, better writers and better thinkers in order to be active, caring, empathetic, contributing and smart citizens of their community,” she said.
Literature teaches life lessons and grammar, while not always the students favorite subject, is crucial for becoming better communicators. Creativity helps her achieve this goal. “I love being creative. Bringing new, creative ideas into my classroom keeps me going and I think it keeps the students engaged too,” she says.
While relatively new to Stillwater High School, Sisler has been teaching for 32 years. She learns something new from her students every day. “The most valuable lesson I have learned is perspective. Students with diverse backgrounds and experiences bring unique viewpoints to the classroom. Actively engaging with these perspectives broadens my worldview, enhances cultural competence, and fosters inclusivity,” Sisler said.
Celebrating student achievements contributes to a positive mindset. She loves attending her students’ activities whether it is a concert or a sporting event.
“I’m a big football fan and love asking students questions before and after game day. I follow the careers of my students after they leave high school. When I get the opportunity to stay in touch with a student or I see him/her out in the world thriving, this gives me a lot of joy. Once my student, always my student!” she exclaims.
High school is hard. Small words of encouragement make a difference. “I always tell my students how lucky I am to have them in my class! They are bright, funny, and excited to learn. It never fails that I have wonderful kids in my classes,” she said.
The advice Sisler has for her students is that “life is a series of beautiful moments with tragic ones peppered in between. The key to happiness is finding the beauty even during the tough moments.”
Sisler has two grown daughters living out of state and a son who attends Oklahoma State University. She loves attending all OSU sporting events and looks forward to participating in Stillwater Makes a Change and Stillwater High School’s philanthropy week.
