WHHS recently welcomed a new face to its English department staff this year: Margaret Lytle, who is stepping into her role full of innovative ideas and enthusiasm. Lytle, a graduate of Miami University with a master’s degree in biology, aims to nurture her students as they get acclimated to the new school.
Lytle’s arrival at WHHS marks a new face in the English department, as she’s super excited to teach Effies, although it’s out of her comfort zone.
“The last 10 years I taught purely high school and so the seventh grade is an adjustment, but I’m really excited to work on writing with them,” Lytle said.
She’s set on improving their skills and helping them rise to the highest. Before joining WHHS, Lytle had previously worked at various high schools within CPS for 10 years.
“I taught for four years at Shroder High School and six years at Dater High School,” Lytle said.
Before becoming a high school English teacher, Lytle spent time educating adults who did not share English as a first language.
“I taught adults English as a second language, and then during my time in CPS at other schools, I taught a lot of English language learners,” Lytle said. “Still English, just a different font of it.”
Besides teaching English, Lytle has many hobbies and interests outside school.
“I love to read and I love to write,” Lytle said. “I really like to socialize, see my friends and I am in a volleyball league.”
However, becoming a teacher was not her first choice. Lytle had always wanted to become a veterinarian until she changed her career path in high school.
“I’m a horse girl; I grew up riding horses and I was like, ‘I’m going to be a veterinarian,” Lytle said. “Then, I shadowed a vet in high school and I saw some surgeries; then I realized this isn’t for me, but I always taught horseback riding and taught in other capacities, like summer camps and stuff. So then I was like, I’m going to give this teaching thing a try, and I really liked it, so here I am,” Lytle said.
The new position has also come with aspirations, which she hopes to achieve for the school year. One of which is to develop her students’ writing skills in preparation for high school.
“I’m just really excited to make the seventh graders really confident writers so that by the time they get to ninth grade, they can really excel,” Lytle said.
Lytle is ready to kick off the new school year with a strong start. With her innovative approach, dedication, and previous experience, she is set to help her students fly to the highest.