Q & A: Tamie Betsill

AP Microeconomics and AP Macroeconomics

What was your life like before Wando?

My life before Wando was at a high school in Georgia. I taught there for nine years. I taught Econ and Government and I was the senior class sponsor. The high school in Georgia I taught at had about 2500-2800 kids. The change coming from my old high school to Wando was not necessarily the amount of students because when I came to Wando we were at about over 3000. Then when I moved here, I was on the graduation committee here at Wando and the ACT testing coordinator. My first year at Wando before I was moved to the CAS, I was in the main building and taught in a different classroom every class. It was challenging, but also fun because I met so many different teachers and it made the day go by fast. It also helped me learn more about Wando and how things were done. I worked beside Ms.[Misty] LeClerc, and she really helped guide me through Wando.   

Where did you live/ where are you from?

I grew up in Georgia. We moved here about seven years ago. I had my daughter Adelene here and my husband is a autopartner at DicksonGoodman downtown. We really enjoy it here.    

What hobbies do you have outside of your occupation?

I like to spend time with my family. I love to travel and try new restaurants and just relaxing when I’m not at work. My family and I really like to travel and do stuff like that, more about experiences. 

What’s the most intense memory you have?

Those moments with students that have struggled with things outside of school, such as abuse or sucicide, have stuck out the most to me. Also, some happy moments when we won the Econ Challenge or when former students send me emails on how they are doing. And events like when we had our first Code Red lock[down], which was the first time in my career when I’m looking around at all these little faces and there’s nothing I can do. 

What’s your family like? What’s one of your favorite memories with them?

My favorite moments with my family are when it’s just us. I like when we go on vacation, or have dinner together, or play board games. It’s hard to find time for that with everyone’s schedules but that is what I treasure, that is what means the most to me. 

If you could describe your childhood in three moments, what would they be?

It would have to be Christmas time. Every year, we would get our tree the day after Thanksgiving and decorate it while watching football, which has become a tradition I do with my family today. 

Tell me a few specific moments that you can picture in your mind that made you who you are today?

When I was in high school, I had a really good cheerleading coach, and she really shaped me to be more compassionate and more considerate. And also helped me get through high school while I was on campus. Within my profession, I had a great mentor in Georgia, and he helped me a lot in my profession and gave me some of the best advice I have ever received. I’ve applied his advice and knowledge he has given me, and it has just become, just better in my profession, not only with students, but also with colleagues as well. And I think that we need more of that in our profession where younger teachers are connected with older teachers to try and help them, guide them through some mistakes new teachers make. 

My U.S. History teacher, Mr. Peabody, was also a great mentor to me. I really respected him and his class, and that kind of made me start thinking about becoming a teacher. Also my cheerleading coach, Miss Ally. She got me more interested in pursuing education.    

If you could reconnect with one person from your childhood, who would you choose to see again? Why?

I would say my best friend from childhood, Stephanie. I would just like to see how she’s doing, so she can meet my daughter and son. She lived in my neighborhood when I was really, really little. I don’t think I even remember her last name. But I do remember us spending a lot of time together.  

What’s your favorite pet story? 

I have never had any pets. I don’t really have time to take care of anybody else, so I haven’t been able to get any pets.