Jen Whitcher, English

Hello, my name is Jen Whitcher. I am a High School English teacher at Lin-Wood Public School. I moved to the North Country in 2003 and have been teaching here at Lin-Wood for 19 years.  I’ve wanted to be a teacher since I first went to preschool. For a short time, I thought being a bus driver and teaching kindergarten would be the greatest two jobs.  I dreamed of picking my students up for school, teaching them all day, and returning them safely home.  My 5th grade teacher, Mrs. Porter - with her high heels and pink lipstick and yellow Porsche, inspired me to go to college to be an elementary teacher.  It wasn’t until college that I knew I wanted to share my love for reading with my high school students.  As an educator of primarily juniors and seniors, I believe it is my job to teach my students to communicate through their writing, to read using their critical thinking, and to be prepared for college or life beyond Lin-Wood.  

My Education and Professional Background:
I went to college at the University of Northern Colorado, in the town of Greeley.  I moved 2,000 miles away from home and learned what real independence was all about. My first teaching job after college was at Whittier Vocational Technical High School in Haverhill, Massachusetts.  I stayed there for three years before moving to the North Country.  Whittier was a HUGE vocational school with over 4,000 students 9-12.  Even though I had 30-35 kids in each English class, I loved going to school everyday.  22 years later, I still love coming to school, chatting with my seniors about college plans or the novel we are reading in class.