Jodi Garrett 

• Position: English 1 teacher 
• Degrees & Alma Mater: Bachelors in arts and english 
• School Activities: Leo club
• Years at Caney Creek: 11 
• Years Teaching: 29 

How would other people describe you?   

Energetic and Crazy. I never stop moving and I’m all over the place all the time.

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

I wanted to be a marine biologist because I love animals. And then I just decided I didn’t want to feed penguins at the zoo for a living so I decided to be a teacher.

Tell us about how you got into teaching.

By accident. I lived in a college apartment but I wasn’t a college student, and all the kids around me would ask “Do you understand this?”, and I would help them. I would tell all these people, all these different subjects, and my roommate looked at me and said, “You’re a natural teacher.” 

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

I like to garden and make things grow because it helps me relax. It cancels out a bunch of noise, I don’t have a bunch of electronics, and things aren’t beeping in my ear, I can just focus, think, and reflect.

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

I like to pull jokes on people that might surprise people, because I like to be kind and joyful, but I also like to be funny and pull tricks on people, especially on Halloween.

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

My relationship with my granddaughter. I drive 5 hours to go watch my granddaughter play soccer for an hour, and then I drive 5 hours back home. I’m most proud of the fact that my granddaughter and my granddaughters both squeal and come running when they see me.

Who is someone you are thankful for and why?

My mentor when I first started teaching in Houston ISD. She taught me how to connect with kids and empower kids to be the best they can be.

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

Don’t argue with kids, you will never win. Also everybody deserves a second chance. The choices they made yesterday might not be the choices they make today. Give them a fresh start and give them a chance to surprise you.

What do you hope to be remembered for? 

The way I make people feel. Remember the lessons that I taught, great. But the way I made them feel about themselves, about learning, about reading.

What’s on your bucket list?

When I retire at the end of the year, I’m going to Northern Ireland and then I’m going to Scotland.

Favorites

• Food: Street tacos
• Song: “Still Alive and Well” by Carolyn Wonderland
• Book: “The Giving Tree” by Shel Silverstein