Teacher of the Week: Lana Latham

NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — Our Teacher of the Week considers her classroom her second home and aims to make her students feel the same through her inviting and fun-loving personality.

From playing games to keep her students’ interest to curing their hiccups, Lana Latham is a standout at Myrtle Grove Middle School.

“I just try to give them things to look forward to. That’s the secret of happiness, I think,” she said.

Although she may have shared her secret to success, it was no surprise to Latham that she was destined to become a teacher.

“I went to school in first grade and my little sister had to stay home. I would come home and teach her everything I learned for the day. I kind of knew what was ahead of me,” said Latham.

Also ahead of this six and seventh grade English teacher were days she describes as never the same or boring with students that constantly keep her on her toes.

“There are surprises every day. Every single day there is a surprise,” she said.

To incorporate a little excitement into her lesson plans, Ms. Latham chooses what she calls a “Dinger Boss” every week.

“That person gets to decide what the error of the day is, the grammar experience.”

She also has monthly teacher’s assistants to engage her students and awards prizes.

“You still have to get the work done, but it can be fun.”

The student who nominated Ms. Latham for Teacher of the Week wrote “Ms. Latham will always be my favorite teacher forever. She taught me so much more than grammar and punctuation. She was like a guidance counselor.”

Ms. Latham said she puts a lot of work into her students at the end of the day, its all worth it.

“I can feel really good about what I’ve done in the world,” she said.