Long-Term Sub, Big-Time Experiences
Shelby Polk
Staff Writer
The past year has granted the Gregory family with a few milestones. In July of 2012, they purchased a house in Waverly, and then in June they adopted a new puppy. On Oct. 10, the biggest life change of all arrived. Roy Gregory was born to Cody and Mallory Gregory at Bryan LGH Medical Center. In turn, Gregory’s FCS students were in need of a substitute for the remainder of the semester while she was on maternity leave. Though they knew they would get a good one, they weren’t expecting to have an “Indiana Jones” fill-in.
Gregory has mapped her classes out for the rest of the semester, with easy online access for her substitute and long term teacher Ellie Baker, as well as her students.
“I do know my wife [Gregory] is excited to get someone with an FCS background, because that is her endorsement area,” math teacher Cody Gregory said.
Though Baker has a lot more than a teaching certificate under her belt, her experiences are proving her to be a valuable addition to Waverly High School.
Prior to filling in for Gregory, Baker spent nine months traveling to different countries to do community work. She got the opportunity to live, breathe, eat and sleep the way people do in the third-world communities she visited.
Altogether, Baker visited nine countries, spending a month in each country. She went to three countries in Central America, two countries in Europe, three countries in Asia, and one country in Africa.
The native people of which ever country Baker visited housed her and her group, so she lived in various structures including treehouses, tents and basic concrete buildings.
Baker also had the chance to experience different types of food, some being unusual to her. Every day, for all three meals, she was fed rice, vegetables and beans.
“It got very old, very fast,” Baker said.
There was limited access to electricity and other luxuries, so Baker and her group lived just like the native people.
“It was crazy unique, because for nine months I lived completely differently,” Baker said. “But we also learned to appreciate having nothing.”
Baker was also exposed to native traditions and customs.
“As women, a lot of times we had to cover our shoulders and knees,” Baker said.
Baker’s life experiences overseas as well as in America has already taught her valuable lessons at a young age. She learned to value the lack of technology and materialistic items when she was spending time and doing community work in other countries.
“I realized that living simple is the greatest gift you could ever have,” Baker said. “You just realize that you don’t need things. Instead of focusing on stuff, we focused on one another.”
Gregory is the adviser for FCCLA, and Baker is the current stand-in for the club as well.
Club president Emily Hoss is pleased with Baker.
“She connects well with me,” Hoss said. “We have the same ideas.”
Baker has also tremendously helped and improve students’ home lives within the community. After a student told her about their family having to do laundry at a laundromat, which can quickly add up in cost, Baker decided to take action.
Instead of standing by and offering sympathy, Baker offered much more to the student, providing a washer and dryer to their family, with the help of her friends.
Baker has also accommodated other various families with much needed washers and dryers.
“It’s pretty cool because I’ve realized that even in America people are generous,” Baker said. “I just think a lot of people don’t know how they can help.”
After substituting for Gregory, Baker plans to continue local community work. She wants to get more involved with homeless families and at-risk youth. She plans to volunteer at the People’s City Mission and continue substitute teaching.
“I’ll probably never have one job full time,” Baker said.
