Susan Stokley is one of the most respected teachers at TJ, well known for the high standards she sets for her students and her love for literature.
Photo by Mia Nogueira
From being an English teacher to becoming a college professor, Susan Stokley demonstrates her love for teaching and experiences acquired over time in her classrooms.
Stokley has a great amount of passion for her work and the students whom she teaches. “Stokley is such a great teacher, and has such a big heart for her students and her job,” said Senior Shauna Pierre-Louis. This will be Stokley’s sixth year working here at TJ in the English department. This is also her third year as the department chair. She has four classes that she teaches: Intro to Lit for freshmen, American Lit for sophomores, Technical Writing for juniors and seniors, and AP Lit for seniors. When not spending her time teaching English at TJ, she is an English professor at Metropolitan State College, teaching Freshmen Composition.
Stokley was born in 1960 in Houghton, Michigan where she grew up. She attended Houghton High School and then went to Northern Michigan University and Michigan Tech University. Later she came to Colorado because she thought it would be a good opportunity to get out of her small hometown. She went to college at Metropolitan State College and got her Bachelors in English Literature, and got her Masters in English Education at the University of Colorado, Denver. “I was glad that I decided to go to college and was able to work hard for myself and for a great education, college was the only route for me,” said Stokley.
Stokley says that becoming a teacher was never something that crossed her mind when she was in college. She became a teacher because one day something happened that touched her heart and made her want to make the world better. “I became an English teacher because of what happened the day of the Columbine shooting. Nothing like that should have happened; there should have been someone for those boys to talk to,” said Stokley. “I want to be one of those teachers who students can come and talk to.”
Stokley came to TJ in the 2005-2006 school year because she wanted to teach high school and TJ was hiring at the time. “What I like about TJ is it is a smaller school and I get to know the students. Either I have had them or I will have them in the future, which allows me to make great relationships with my students,” said Stokley.
Stokley says she takes teaching her classes very seriously and sets high standards for each student who crosses her path. “Every day that we are in her class we learn something new and interesting. She is a very fascinating person and knows Literature very well,” said Senior Gaby Landeros, who is taking Stokley’s AP Lit class.
Stokley’s fans at TJ are great in number. “Mrs. Stokley is very knowledgeable; she has very high standards for her AP classes and the atmosphere in her classroom is uplifting and filled with love,” said Senior Rachael Newman, an AP Lit student. There are many other students that have a lot of love and respect for Stokley as a teacher.
Both students and staff look up to Stokley. “Ms. Stokley is very hardworking and intelligent, she’s extremely professional and she has such high standards for the school and her students. She sets a good example that I admire,” says her colleague, English Teacher Jeffery Almond.
Stokley’s love for literature was cultivated at a young age, which she believes is one of the reasons why she has such a passion for teaching English. “Every time I teach a book or a play or a poetry unit I am so happy because there is so much more to literature than what is on the page,” said Stokley, who has much to say about her love for literature. “I suppose it was only natural to transfer that joy of reading to show people how relevant, deep, and classic literature is to everyday life,” said Stokley.
Outside of TJ this is Stokley’s first semester teaching Freshman Composition at Metropolitan State College. “I love it, love it, love it. I can assign homework and it gets done, I can hold a workshop and students attend. My students are interested in learning and in their success,” said Stokley. “I wanted to do this because I wanted to get my high school students college ready; I want them to be fully prepared. I refuse to let students leave TJ without being college ready,” proclaimed Stokley.
Stokley’s high school students are amazed with her skills and her being able to juggle teaching high school and being a college professor at the same time. “I am impressed that she teaches college. It’s good to have someone as a reference and who knows how to teach that high of an education level,” said Senior Michael Kutz, who is one of Stokley’s AP Lit students.
With all of this teaching, Stokley doesn’t have much time for other things…but when she can find it, she loves spending time with her husband and their dog, and reading a good book. “Life has to be balanced; you have to always make time for yourself. Plus, there is nothing like sitting on the back of my patio with a fresh novel, my dog, and a six-pack of cold diet coke,” stated Stokley.
Reflecting on her career thus far, Stokley says, “My experience here has been incredibly enriching personally and professionally. Every year I feel like I get better at what I do. And I am grateful to work with such a dedicated group of students and staff.”
