Jennifer Pagel

• Position: Art teacher
• Degrees & Alma Mater: Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies. 
• School Activities:  The National Art Honor Society
• Years at Caney Creek: 7 
• Years Teaching: 7 

How would other people describe you?

Well some of my students probably describe me as pretty mean. I think that I’m tough on some of them, but it’s because I have high expectations. Some people think that I’m very outgoing, but I’m generally not, and I don’t know, probably more academically focused.

Was there a career you wanted to pursue OR pursued before teaching.

Well, my dream career is to be a lawyer. So, like, it’s, it’s still kind of on the back burner. I thought about going back to school to do that. I have a background in marketing and brand licensing, so I had more of corporate path for a long time

Tell us about how you got into teaching. 

Well, I think when I initially started thinking about teaching, I had already had my kids, like it was more of an idea, because, like, I was volunteering a lot in the schools, and I liked seeing kids grow and develop. And like, I liked seeing that like Spark where, like, they learned something. And so when I went back to school to pursue that degree, like, my initial thought was that I was going to do social studies. I really liked Texas history and US history, and so, like I intended, to teach junior high and stick with the history aspect. And it just kind of developed and evolved. I wasn’t sure I was going to actually be a teacher after I was certified and I got to Cane Creek by accident.

What do you do outside of school for fun? Why? 

Well, I like to read and hang out with my family. I have my little puppy that I like to take on little walks. He can’t go very far, so I like that and so more, just spending time with my family.

When people get to know you, what are they most surprised to learn about you? 

Probably one of the most things that surprises people is that I’m actually a very shy person, and most people don’t believe that, rather they believe it, because I push myself out of my comfort zone every day, and so I can be outgoing and talkative. But if I don’t have to be I’m not.

Tell us the story about what you are most proud of yourself for.

 I think I’m most proud of my children. So like, I’ve got three sons, two of them have already graduated from college, and they have, like, official degrees, and they have careers, they’re not just at a job. And my youngest son is a junior in high school, and he’s got a plan for where he wants to go to college and my stepdaughters are also, I think they’re on the right path with going to college and everything they’re still in high school. One’s a sophomore and the other one’s a senior this year. So I think that’s probably my most important accomplishment, is the kids. I’m glad that I finished college and that I have a career. 

Who is someone you are thankful for and why?

Well, I’m thankful for my health and thankful for my kids and my family. I think now that as I’ve grown older and like I’ve lost people in my life that I think that I value my time here and am thankful for my husband. You know, we just got married a little over a year ago. So I’m very thankful for him. 

What advice would you give to someone pursuing a career similar to yours?

I would say that no two days are alike, that you have to celebrate the small successes and not let any dramatic things happen throughout the day happen, and so that if you’re passionate about Teaching to pursue your passion and dream.

What do you hope to be remembered for? 

I think that I would hope to be remembered for helping other people and to encourage people to pursue what they want to do, their dreams and their passions.

What’s on your bucket list?

I think on my bucket list I want to travel more and one of the main places that I always have wanted to go to is to Iceland or to somewhere where I could see the northern lights and the Aurora. Borealis and I have a trip planned to Alaska this coming summer that I’m kind of excited about. So I think the main thing is I just want to travel

Favorites

• Food: Sushi
• Music: “Un Rinconcito En El Cielo” by Ramon Ayala
• TV Show: “Family Feud”
• Movie: “Robin Hood”
• Book: “Passion in Death: An Eve Dallas Novel” by J.D. Robb