Eliana: What subject do you teach? How did you discover TPS and how long have you been teaching?
Mrs. Lilly: I teach (and will soon lead!) Writing 6 Exploration, a course I love that has really transformed since I began as an EFL-A tutor. That was in 2017, after I graduated with my literature degree and realized my peer tutoring experience might qualify me for a position with my good friend Becca’s employer (for anyone wondering: yes, “that” Becca.) Sometimes, I think back on how easily I could have missed out on TPS – just the right fit for a mom with a young family. God brought this my way through several kind people.
Eliana: That’s amazing! Can you tell me about your family? Do you have any pets? Where do you live?
Mrs. Lilly: I sure can! I live in Texas with my pyromaniacal, pickleballing husband Derek and our children, Enoch, Geneva, and Marcus. I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area, where my mom still drives a taxi and my sister drinks bubble tea of a caliber I just can’t find around here. No pets at the moment; I miss my chickens, may they rest in peace, slightly less than the scrumptious eggs they used to provide, so I guess “employees” fit them better than “pets.”
Eliana: Haha, I love bubble tea too! On the subject of food, if you were a dessert, what would you be and why?
Mrs. Lilly: A trifle: multilayered, transparent, maybe even fun – but also over the top and kind of a mess.
Eliana: I love that reasoning! What is one of your favorite branches/genres of literature? What about it particularly intrigues you?
Mrs. Lilly: I can’t get over the magic of a good short story. Something about the goal of efficiency makes authors wrest so much meaning out of every word. No matter how many life-changing novels I read, the lessons in the best short stories stick with me like no other.
Eliana: Short stories are incredible. People say concise writing is the best kind, and I really admire short story authors for the way they are able to communicate so much with so few words. Do you have a favorite?
Mrs. Lilly: Choosing a favorite short story is like choosing a favorite song – I’m not sure it’s possible! However, I think I can say that my favorite short story author is probably Flannery O’Connor.
Eliana: Fair enough. On a lighter subject, if you were shipwrecked on a desert island and could choose two items to have with you, assuming basic needs like food, water, toothpaste, etc. are taken care of, what would they be?
Mrs. Lilly: This might be the time for an e-reader, preferably loaded with all the necessary titles ahead of time. Then again, the second item would have to be an astonishingly powerful portable charger. Could that really work? Maybe, I should opt for a dog and a sailboat.
Eliana: I’d say those are both worthy options. Although personally, I’d go with the e-reader – think of the unlimited, uninterrupted reading time! What is one challenge and one reward of teaching your specific subject?
Mrs. Lilly: My biggest challenge teaching writing is to convince reluctant students that they can do it! The ideas are in there, and they can express them beautifully. The flip side, when I see young writers beginning to realize exactly that, feels so rewarding.
Eliana: That makes a lot of sense! Another fun question: you can have dinner with two famous people in the world, dead or alive. Who are you inviting?
Mrs. Lilly: Sticking with those who could speak to me in languages I know, perhaps Beethoven and Winston Churchill.
Eliana: Excellent choices. What are some of your just-for-fun hobbies outside the classroom?
Mrs. Lilly: I run the grandma gamut: baking, reading, knitting, gardening, writing letters with fountain pens, watching movies, scrapbooking, arts and crafts with my kids, nieces, and nephews… I’ll need at least seventeen grandchildren eventually.
Eliana: The grandma gamut sounds like so much fun! What’s a Bible verse that’s been particularly encouraging to you lately and why?
Mrs. Lilly: Zephaniah 3:17, “The Lord your God in your midst, the Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.” In a full and sometimes chaotic season of life, I need to remember God’s nearness and the might of his love!
Eliana: That’s one of my all-time favorite verses! Speaking of chaotic seasons of life, we’re almost at the end of the 2023-24 academic year: have you learned anything new over this school year?
Mrs. Lilly: Through their writing, my students have taught me about several fun things this year: wax seal art, cubing, diamond painting, and even Minecraft. On the bigger scale, I’ve also learned that past experience teaching becomes a more reliable tool to carry me through each year. Practice makes perfect-er!
I couldn’t have asked for better advice to end this year’s Teacher Spotlight column with. While you’re studying for exams and final projects to finish the year on a strong note, remember that practice makes perfect-er! As I say my farewells to clay and TPS as a graduating senior this spring, I want to thank everyone who has read my articles and suggested teachers to feature; it’s been a wonderful experience for me. Good luck to all on this final push to end well, and have a great summer!
Hi Mrs. Lilly! It’s me, I-ning, your W6E #5 student! You’re an amazing teacher, and I had a wonderful year with you!
Thank you, I-ning. You rock! 🙂
My first ever TPS teacher –hard to believe that was five years ago. Baby Enoch is now so old!
It was so fun reading this!
Hannah! How I remember your lovely writing. It’s so good to see you still around TPS! Baby Enoch is learning PHONICS :’) and doing CHORES. </3
Hi Mrs. Lilly!!! I am SW(Samuel Wen) from you W6E #5!!! Thank you to be a wonderful teacher all year round!!! Have a great summer break!!!
Hi Mrs. Lilly! I don’t know if you remember me, but I was in Writing Fundamentals 6 class two years ago. It was so fun having you as a teacher, I’m glad I got to know you!
Wow, Chloe — I’m wearing your t-shirt design right now! I had to order it when I saw your handiwork. Great to hear from you.
That’s so cool! It means a lot to me that you liked my work! It’s great to hear from you too, have a good summer!
MRS. LILLY!!! sooooo great to have you as my teacher this year 🙂 you’re the BEST EVER and I love your classes. glad you’ll be leading W6E!!! your new son Marcus is so cute!!! EVERYONE ELSE: mrs. Lilly is the BEST TEACHER EVER!!!
Mrs. Lilly!!! It was amazing to have you as a teacher this year; you are the best W6E teacher that I could ever ask for… I rly appreciate you teaching me this year… You have been so helpful and encouraging. Thank you.
WOW It’s amazing to meet you here Mrs Lilly!
Your children are so beautiful and I’m not sure if you remember me but I’m your wf6 student in 2019 and 2020! WOW time had been flying and taking your class was my first time learning in TPS! I hope I can take other courses with you in the future!