Cammie Symons is in her twenty-first year as a teacher at Jacksonville High School. Her favorite thing about teaching high school is the students. She loves how each student brings something new every day. She realizes that high school kids are on a constant quest to find themselves and become someone and she loves being able to help the process. She didn’t always want to be an English/journalism teacher. In her first year at Illinois State University, she majored in Biology with the goal of becoming a physical therapist. She didn’t like her biology and chemistry classes, and the only reason she still went was because of a cute lab instructor. The next year, she changed her major to secondary English and the rest is history. Her favorite material to teach is the great literature in her sophomore classes. Symons says, “I am incredibly fortunate to teach some really great literature in my sophomore classes.” She loves to read and being able to discuss compelling stories with others makes teaching English a dream job. Along with teaching English, Mrs. Symons also teaches the journalism class here at JHS. When asked if she could write for any published newspaper or magazine she answered, “I would probably want to write a syndicated column that would appear in various publications.” She claims this is true so that she wouldn’t be limited to writing about just one topic and would be free to write about anything she pleases. Cammie has an “eclectic” taste for reading. This means that she can read anything. One contemporary author that she always reads is Jodi Picoult. Mrs. Symons likes her because her works are timely, well-researched, and thought-provoking. Her favorite journalist is Nellie Bly. Bly gets her vote because she was a daring pioneer for women. Mrs. Symons is an English-loving grammar Nazi who loves her job and encourages students to be the best that they can be. Jacksonville High School would not be the same place without her.