While working for the American Cancer Society after she graduated from college, Margaret Sharp discovered she enjoyed the teaching aspect of the job more than event planning and fundraising work.

“One day it hit me; I loved teaching people new things,” Sharp says. “I thought it would be much more fun to teach children than adults, and I started the process of getting my master’s degree in education. I absolutely love working with upper elementary children. They are willing to explore new things, and they have a great sense of humor about the world around them.”

Sharp has been teaching at Fairhope Intermediate School since 2011, and she has been teaching sixth grade math since the 2012-2013 school year.

Sharp remembers one teacher from her youth who always encouraged her students regardless of their academic strengths or weaknesses.

“I had Linda DiChiara for second and fourth grades at Gulf Shores Elementary,” she says. “What I really remember is her kindness and encouragement. I won a citizenship award from her in second grade. I still have that award.”

Sharp says she hopes her students find her to be just as positive of a figure in their lives as well.

“I hope my students will always remember me as kind and funny,” Sharp says. “More than that, I hope they will remember that math is everywhere, and that everyone is good at some type of math.”

Sharp says that message — that math is everywhere — is at the heart of her yearlong lesson plan.

“I stress to my students there is no escaping math,” Sharp says. “As a fun way of showing that, we do a cooking activity every year where the students have to convert measurements to complete a recipe. My favorite part of every year is seeing all the kids, without fail, react with surprise when they realize that a whole stick of butter is a half cup. Every time, every face lights up with new knowledge.”

Sharp says those ‘ah ha’ moments are her favorite part of being a teacher.

“When that look of understanding crosses a student’s face, it is the best feeling,” Sharp says. “When they take their new knowledge and relate it to something they already know, I am always so proud.”

NAME: Margaret Sharp

SCHOOL: Fairhope Intermediate School

SUBJECTS TAUGHT: Sixth grade math

SOMETHING INTERESTING ABOUT YOURSELF: Although math is my favorite subject, my undergraduate degree is in journalism, and I love writing.