November 9, 2021 - Fifth Graders Interview Ms. Laurie Miller!

November 9, 2021

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Introducing the Interview Squad!

What is the Interview Squad?

The Interview Squad is a group of 5th graders who have volunteered to interview new staff, in an effort to help families get to know them a little better.
All 5th graders participated in shaping the questions to be asked.
Students from each 5th grade classroom volunteered to conduct the interviews.
These interviews, written up by the students, are being published in a series of Special Edition Newsletters over this school year.
Three 5th graders conducted this first interview.

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Interview #2 : Ms. Laurie Miller

French philosopher and writer Marcel Proust was known for his witty answers to a series of intriguing questions, now known as the Proust Questionnaire. To learn more about our teachers in a unique way, the TC 5th graders took on the challenge of creating their own set of interview questions.

For this issue we had the honor of interviewing our Assistant Principal, Ms. Laurie Miller.

Background

Ms. Miller works at Thornton Creek as the Assistant Principal. She majored in education and leadership in college, which led to her career, and her hopes and dreams. She said, “I want to help every child and adult learn to read because I truly believe that reading opens doors for us, and takes us places we might not go to.”

Ms. Miller was born in Eastern Washington but moved to this side of the mountains at a young age. She loves football, and her favorite color is crimson, the color of her favorite football team, WSU. Ms. Miller has been married for 36 years and has a daughter that is 30 and a son that is 28. Both of her children live close by, and her mother lives in Tacoma. She finds that nearness delightful. Her favorite food is spaghetti. Why? Because who doesn’t like spaghetti?

Ms. Miller likes to do many things like watching otters, going to live theater, baking, doing crafts, watching movies, and reading. A favorite author of Ms. Miller’s is Kristin Hanah, and she just finished the book “The Four Winds”, a story that takes place during the dust bowl. Her secret talent is that she is actually an actress and she has been in five plays at the Everett Historical Theater.

Welcome to Thornton Creek, Ms. Miller. We are glad you’re here.

Interview Questions

If you could live as an animal, what would it be and why?

An orca because you have all of the ocean for your space. Not very many animals interact with an orca. And I love the swimming and the breaching they do. They are so powerful, yet so loving with their calves.

If you could meet anyone, living or dead, who would it be and why?

Leonardo DaVinci. I was able to visit his home is France and was amazed at all he invented. Did you know one time he invented the first flying machine – a helicopter? He also invented scuba gear. Leonardo was a great painter, but he was so much more.

If you could have one super-power, what would it be and why?

I guess I would like to fly. Just to be able to leave and go up and be alone and be able to get away from places. I could just land in a tree and sleep there and not worry about a house and all the bills. I just thought being able to fly like a bird would be pretty cool.

If you could choose another job besides teaching, what would it be and why?

This one was very easy, either an actor or a writer! Because I think words are powerful and to be able to write the words that can make people think or change their mind, I think is amazing. To be able to help somebody to escape to a different place – reading is a great way to do that, and so is acting. When you go to the theater the whole world is gone except for right there, and it can change you. I love escaping the written words and to be able to create that world for someone would be amazing. I think Les Miserables is my all-time favorite.

What is the best thing you ever learned from a student?

My job is so wonderful, I learn something new every day from students. I think the thing that I have learned the most is to really stop and listen to what kids are telling me. If there is a problem or something you want to share, I like to be able to say, “What is it you want to tell me?” or “What can I do to help?” Sometimes things are going so fast, I run around a lot in this job, so just -being able to slow down and listen and chat is important. The other day there was a 6-year-old showing me a ladybug. I was able to just sit down and look at it with him. He was just so excited about that ladybug and it was so sweet.

Thank you Ms. Miller for getting to know you better during our interview.

Respectfully submitted,

Thornton Creek Interview Squad

-Ellie S.

-Maya S.

-Xiya X.

The newsletter team would like to offer thanks to Ms. Miller for taking the time to be interviewed, and to the 5th graders who worked together to come up with such excellent interview questions, and who produced this lovely interview!

Extra special thanks go to Bridget DuRuz who organized this whole operation as the "Interview Squad Faculty Adviser". Sharing these interviews gives us a much anticipated peek at some of what is happening at TC!