A Day in the Life of Miss Ritter
English teacher Maria Ritter juggles a busy schedule.
by Brendan Curtin and Zach McMurray BP Staff Writers
November 16, 2007
High school English teacher Maria Ritter recently took on the responsibility of supervising stage crew, serving as technical director for the fall play. With this added task in Ritter’s everyday life, the Badger Pause decided to highlight Ritter to show the effort and dedication she puts into our school.
Ritter begins her day by waking up at 5:30 am, and rushing to prepare for the long day ahead. After the chore of deciding what to pack for lunch, she heads to school, enduring a 30-minute commute.
On most days she arrives at school around 7:10 am, and begins her school day by teaching her English III class, her only junior class. After this first class adjourns, Ritter’s next task is to fill the minds of the Honors English II class with knowledge. Ritter says this is the she enjoys teaching the most, because, “We cover such a wide variety of materials.” After the honors class is over, Ritter teaches her English II class before moving on to lunch. After eating her usual lunch of a Lean Cuisine Panini sandwiches, it is time for Ritter to teach her Grammar and Composition class, a prerequisite course for next semesters Writer’s Seminar which teaches a smattering of students from various grades.
Once Grammar and Composition comes to a close, she teaches another English II class and then reaches her well deserved planning period. Ritter can use this time to prepare for her classes and accomplish work. Because Ritter dedicates so much of her post-school time to the fall production, she is hard pressed for time to accomplish her usual work. “Absolutely, students underestimate the amount of work that goes into preparing and teaching lessons,” said Ritter, who feels that students take for granted how much work is involved in teaching. "Preparing for a school play takes a lot of time outside of the school day. Therefore it has affected the amount of time I usually have to catch up on my work I don’t get done during the school day hours,” said Ritter.
Ritter’s formal school day comes to a close with the teaching of yet another English II class. “I usually stay after school to get work done,” said Ritter when asked what she normally does after school.
However, Ritter recently took on the responsibility of being the Tech Director for this year’s fall play “Let it Rain”. “It’s my first year, and things are on track. It is a very funny play,” said Ritter in reference to her new position.
Stage Crew is responsible for such things in the play as operating the lights, gathering the props, and making the sets. The stage crew members and actors alike meet to work after school, and don’t leave until all necessary tasks have been completed. “It usually lasts until 9:30 pm everyday for the last week before the play,” said Ritter.
“I wasn’t sure how Miss Ritter would be since she’s new, but she is doing great. She definitely knows what she is doing,” said Dan Lasco, a member of stage crew.
Although Ritter thoroughly enjoys working with the play, and has put in many hours to ensure it will run smoothly, she did say that when the play is over she looks forward to sleeping and watching the Steelers and West Virginia University games.
