Cathy Jarvi

School: Centennial Middle School 
City/State: Dade City, FL

Q & A with Cathy:

How long have you been teaching? Have you taught anywhere else?
I have been teaching for 18 years. I taught in another middle school in this same county ( Pasco County) called Raymond B. Stewart Middle School. I also taught as an adjunct for Florida Virtual School. It was a wonderful experience with much more student contact than one might imagine. I also have been tutoring privately for six years in math (mostly high school students).

What subject(s) do you teach during the school year?
I teach middle school Business Computers. This includes careers, keyboarding, and software applications. Word processing, spreadsheets, and presentations are three of the applications students use in class. We also create music, comic strips, and movies. With only 9 weeks per class before they rotate to another teacher, we are limited in time to include much more in 6th and 7th grades. In 8th grade, we broaden the types and number of documents and projects produced during the semester.

Approximately how many students do you teach in a school year?
In a school year, I teach about 400-500 students. We rotate every quarter in 6th and 7th grades and every semester in 8th grade.

What/who motivated you to get into teaching?
My mom was also a teacher before she retired. I have always wanted to be a teacher and I like helping others learn.

How might your students describe your teaching style?
I think students would describe my style as caring and helpful. I want them to learn the correct way to key and I help them with their documents and other projects.

What do you love most about teaching?
I love seeing the students become successful computer users. I love seeing students who can key at 50+ wpm in 7th and 8th grades. I also love seeing the complicated projects they produce.

What would you most like to change about teaching?
I would like to see more of a financial commitment to education and to technology. I know it is quite expensive, but students need to be prepared for careers and need to use equipment that is current.

What is your favorite memory/experience from your teaching career?
My favorite memory was when several of my students received awards at the state FBLA competitions in Orlando.

What is your least favorite memory/experience from your teaching career?
My least favorite memory was when the terrorism attack of 9/11 happened. It was difficult for middle school students to grasp the magnitude of the events surrounding the attacks.

How do you like to spend any free time you have away from teaching?
I spend free time with my family. My daughter is also a teacher so we have 3 generations of teaching discussions going much of the time. I also like to shop, read, and remodel my house. I’m an avid HGTV fan.

If you were not a teacher, what would you most likely be?
Before becoming a teacher, I was in business and worked in a bank. I enjoyed business and working in a financial atmosphere.