Saxton is excited to take on the challenge of teaching a new class in a new state and feels incredibly fulfilled by her new work. photo by Harper Skurky-Thomas
Anna Saxton is teaching her freshman class how to be successful students.
Freshman seminar is a brand new offering for the class of 2030. Taught by Anna Saxton, the class teaches freshmen basic skills that will help them throughout their high school career. The course covers academic skills like notetaking and study habits as well as interpersonal skills like self-awareness and how to form good relationships with adults. “We always talk about how resumes, grades, and transcripts will get you hired at a job, but your life skills, if not aware or trained properly, can be the reason you get fired from a job,” said Saxton.
Saxton has only lived in Colorado for two months, having lived in Ohio up until the start of the school year. She taught math for six years while living in Ohio. When she decided to move to Colorado, she reached out to Principal Mike Christoff, who coincidentally went to the same high school as Saxton. While there were no openings to teach math at TJ, she was able to get a position teaching freshman seminar. Anna Saxton is teaching her freshman class how to be successful students.
Saxton is excited by the new chapter in her career. “As a math teacher, it took a couple years to convince students that they would need math,” recalled Saxton. “But with this subject and this curriculum, there’s an immediate need for it…they can see they ‘why’ of it.” Freshman seminar is a very practical class. Saxton loves how a student can learn a skill in her class and use it immediately in their next class. The class allows freshmen to gain expertise they will use for the rest of their life while giving them support in the sometimes difficult transition between middle school and high school.
Advisory classes have been growing in popularity as school districts recognize the benefits they can have on incoming classes. Many states have been encouraging their implementation, often pulling data and curriculum from the Center for High School Success to support their programs. Denver Public Schools specifically has been prioritizing freshmen seminars, with other DPS high schools including Montebello and Northfield also creating seminar classes.
TJ has been an incredibly welcoming place for Saxton so far. “I feel respected by the administration in this building,” she said. “I feel respected by colleagues. I feel respected by the students.” TJ’s strong admin support and collaborative teaching environment have helped Saxton feel accepted from the very start. “I feel super rejuvenated as a teacher,” Saxton said of the transition from teaching math to teaching seminar. Saxton feels as if she is being given the space to grow as an educator and a person. While Saxton may return to math in the future, she isn’t sure if that’s what she wants quite yet. Saxton said that teaching this class “is so valuable and meaningful.”
It’s not hard to see why: according to Saxton, freshmen are more likely to graduate if they pass their freshman year with over a 90% attendance rate and no more than one failed class. Teaching freshmen essential study and social skills, along with hammering in the importance of attendance, could improve TJ’s school culture and increase graduation rates at the same time. Encouraging students to keep their grades up and form good relationships with adults in the building will have a butterfly effect across years.
Saxton has only lived in Colorado for two months. Despite her short time here, Saxton already loves the state. “I fell in love with the mountains.. I did six 14ers in six days,” Saxton reminisced. She has loved being able to spend time outdoors and meet new people. “Everything’s been so positive. I’ve met so many amazing people.” In her free time, Saxton also enjoys reading and camping. She’s been having a great time exploring Colorado and getting to know her new home.
