Allen Lee Spivey is a new math teacher at LBHS teaching Integrated Math 1. Spivey says that LBHS really attracted him before he was fully qualified to be a teacher.

Spivey says, “There was a need here for math teachers; I felt led here.” Spivey put his mind on becoming a math teacher once he finished some more schooling.

Since the beginning of the school year, Spivey notices the need for math teachers. Spivey says that some of his students are really far behind in math and have low state test scores. One goal for this year is to get all of his students to a proficient level in state testing. Some students will struggle to get to this point, but these setbacks are learning moments, not failures for himself or his classes.

As a new math teacher, Spivey faces many challenges. He says the hardest part of being a new teacher is having to make lesson plans for every day. A lesson plan explains every little detail of what work to give and what to teach. Spivey also says that lesson plans are like a survival mode. Because these lesson plans must be done before the school day, he struggles to complete these and finish his own college work as well. Although college is very knowledgeable, he thinks that he learns more from teaching. 

Before becoming a math teacher, Spivey was in the retail field.  He sold cars for 21 years at a car dealership. After those 21 years, he noticed his friends that were teachers and the strong relationships they had with their students. These students talked to their teachers and made a difference in his friends’ lives. This is when Spivey noticed that emotions are what really matter in life.

He says,“Retail is nice to help out the economy, but relationships give you a reason to live.”   This attitude is why he took a chance to leave his job and to go to school to become a teacher. Now he hopes he can have a strong relationship with as many students as he can. As long as he inspires one student, he will be happy.