Parker County Today PCT MAY 2019 | Page 32

our cover: PARKER COUNTY MOVERS AND SHAKERS Roger Grizzard Innovative Educator Award Meagan Loveland School Teacher, Weatherford High School - A.P. Physics l and ll T 30 eaching was not the profession that Meagan Loveland grew up dreaming about pursuing. “I chose teaching just because I needed a job,” Loveland stated frank- ly during her PCT interview. But once she had her own class- room and a room full of students that were bright and focused and ready to learn, Loveland’s “job” quickly blos- somed into a treasured career. “To me, teaching feels like a service to the community,” she said. “Now, I couldn’t see myself doing anything else. For so many kids, teachers are their only positive role models.” Loveland is a 2002 graduate of Weatherford High School. “I work with some of my former teachers,” she said. One of her former teachers was also a role model to her. “Nikki Comstock. I respect and admire her. I don’t think I would have the success that I’ve had as a teacher if wasn’t for her.” Loveland works between 60 and 80 hours a week and so she doesn’t have much time to devote to service organizations or clubs. Teaching is what feeds her soul. If she could magically change anything about her job, she probably wouldn’t. “I would like to have more time with the students,” she said. When asked if she could go anywhere else in the world to do her job, Loveland said, “One of the reasons I love teaching at Weatherford is that I graduated from Weatherford and that’s what makes it’s special to me.” She added that she really doesn’t want to leave and go to a foreign, exotic place to pursue her teaching career. That doesn’t mean that Loveland doesn’t long to travel to strange, exot- ic places. “If I could pick anyplace in the world to visit, I’d would go to Antarctica, just because hardly anyone has been there, it’s pristine. Roger Grizzard and Meagan Loveland There are so many scientific explorations happening at the Science Station at the South Pole. I’d be really interested in seeing it.” When she has some time off, Loveland enjoys traveling and hiking. Her favorite hiking destination is the Grand Canyon. “I love just traveling around to quiet places, and be out, enjoying nature.” Her second choice would be to get a stay at the Space Station. Loveland’s favorite aspect of teaching is the students. “It’s really nice when- ever a student finally understands something that’s really difficult,” Loveland said. “When I see the light bulb go off, it’s a nice feeling because I know that I helped them understand something that not a whole lot of people understand.”