Many eighth graders are familiar with the face of English teacher Elizabeth Stephens, but upperclassmen may not have met her yet.
“I became a teacher because growing up, I used to loathe reading. I always viewed it as a chore more than an enjoyable activity. It wasn’t until I got older that I understood how wrong I really was. I realized I had just never been exposed to the kinds of books, stories, and voices that really appealed to me as a person,” said Stephens.
Stephens has been teaching 8th grade for twelve years, three of which have been at FCHS.
“At my old school, 8th grade and the high school were separate, so I only ever got to see my old students when they could sneak over to the middle school to say hi, which wasn’t very often,” said Stephens.
She has one son, who is in 6th grade, a leopard gecko, and four cats: Hermione Granger, Sirius Black, Luna Lovegood, and Draco Malloy.
“I’m a pretty big Harry Potter fan, if you couldn’t tell,” said Stephens.
She also enjoys baking, reading, gardening, playing video/board games, traveling, watching old movies, spending time with friends and family, and watching plays.
“A few years ago my husband took me to Shakespeare under the Stars at Agecroft Hall in Richmond when they were putting on Romeo & Juliet, which I used to teach. We were sitting in the front row for the show that night, and when Peter, the Capulet’s servant, is supposed to ask Romeo if he can read the names on the party list, the actor chose to ask me in the audience. I then replied with Romeo’s next line, which is, ‘Aye, if I know the letters and the language.’ The actor’s face immediately brightened, and he congratulated me on knowing the line. It was a thrilling moment to be part of the play and be able to speak Romeo’s line before he did,” said Stephens.
Stephens said she is honored to be able to teach in Fluvanna County.
“I’ve never worked in the county where I live before, so it’s very reassuring to feel like another member of the family. The students and staff here are absolutely amazing. I wouldn’t want to work anywhere else,” said Stephens.
