Casey Holland, English
“A lesson that has stuck with me throughout my whole life is to always outwork the person next to you. Whether it’s athletics or school, work hard, and work harder than the person next to you. As an educator, I know that my job is never finished and I’ve got to continue to work harder and harder to help students. I’m most proud to be a teacher when I have a former athlete or student reach out to me and tell me about their successes. That makes me feel like a proud parent and a proud teacher. My mom always talked about when I was a little kid. I always knew I wanted to be a teacher. When I got to high school I thought I wanted to be a PE or history teacher because I wanted to coach basketball. My high school basketball coach said to do something that will make you more marketable, so you’ll more likely get a job out of college. I was always really good at English, I loved reading and writing, so I just followed that passion and advice. The best compliment I’ve ever gotten is when I get letters from my students saying how much they enjoy my teaching and that I actually helped them enjoy English class. One of the reasons I wanted to become a teacher and a coach is because a lot of the time the teachers and coaches I came from weren’t always great, and I wanted to be an example of what they were not,” – Casey Holland, English
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Pronouns: she/her
I am a freshman and this is my first year on staff. When I'm not at school I dance at studio Dance Art and on the varsity dance team...
![“Everyone here at Parkway West High School keeps telling me I am famous [from a TikTok that went viral]. They [students and staff] stop me in the hallways asking for my autograph. That takes a lot to get accustomed to, but I enjoy the noticed honor. My major at the University of Texas – Austin was a clear path. I married while in College and relocated to Little Rock, Arkansas with my husband; and later, to St. Louis, Missouri. I finished my undergraduate degree at Harris Stowe University here in St. Louis and began my first Mathematics Teacher assignment at Hanley Junior High School in the University City Public Schools. My mother, Mrs. Bernice Barbara Nash Jackson, Deceased was the greatest inspiration to become a teacher. My aunt, Dr. Myrtle Elliott Hightower, and Dr. Todd Elliott, Deceased shared in that distinction. My uncle, Dr. Elliott was a Mathematics Teacher. His love of Mathematics inspired me to show an interest in the subject. I do regret not pursuing being a High School Band Director. I love playing different instruments. I began in the Band at South Oak Cliff High School, Dallas, Texas. I have pleasant thoughts of being Majorette Captain of my High School Marching Band,” - Mrs.McNeal, math](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/DSC_0025-240x150.jpg)
![“I worked very hard in high school academically, athletically, and in extracurriculars. Having all of that come together and getting into my reach college was a pretty proud moment. All of that said, I am probably most proud of something much more simple: being nice to people. I learned compassion and empathy from my mom at a young age and the importance and power of just being nice always resonated. I had many teachers along the way [that got me into teaching]. I am thankful that I became an educator. I get to learn and grow through my job on a daily basis. I get to work with students, teachers, and parents to find ways to best support the students that are the future of our community. In those ways, my job is very fulfilling and rewarding,” - Mario Pupillo, Assistant Principal](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/DSC_0061-240x150.jpg)
![“Everyone here at Parkway West High School keeps telling me I am famous [from a TikTok that went viral]. They [students and staff] stop me in the hallways asking for my autograph. That takes a lot to get accustomed to, but I enjoy the noticed honor. My major at the University of Texas – Austin was a clear path. I married while in College and relocated to Little Rock, Arkansas with my husband; and later, to St. Louis, Missouri. I finished my undergraduate degree at Harris Stowe University here in St. Louis and began my first Mathematics Teacher assignment at Hanley Junior High School in the University City Public Schools. My mother, Mrs. Bernice Barbara Nash Jackson, Deceased was the greatest inspiration to become a teacher. My aunt, Dr. Myrtle Elliott Hightower, and Dr. Todd Elliott, Deceased shared in that distinction. My uncle, Dr. Elliott was a Mathematics Teacher. His love of Mathematics inspired me to show an interest in the subject. I do regret not pursuing being a High School Band Director. I love playing different instruments. I began in the Band at South Oak Cliff High School, Dallas, Texas. I have pleasant thoughts of being Majorette Captain of my High School Marching Band,” - Mrs.McNeal, math](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/DSC_0025-475x317.jpg)
![“I worked very hard in high school academically, athletically, and in extracurriculars. Having all of that come together and getting into my reach college was a pretty proud moment. All of that said, I am probably most proud of something much more simple: being nice to people. I learned compassion and empathy from my mom at a young age and the importance and power of just being nice always resonated. I had many teachers along the way [that got me into teaching]. I am thankful that I became an educator. I get to learn and grow through my job on a daily basis. I get to work with students, teachers, and parents to find ways to best support the students that are the future of our community. In those ways, my job is very fulfilling and rewarding,” - Mario Pupillo, Assistant Principal](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/DSC_0061-475x317.jpg)
![“I’m passionate about school and baseball and have faced many challenges in both. With school last semester, my science class was very difficult, I felt like I had to learn the [lessons] by myself. And with baseball, when I was in seventh grade, I sprained my elbow pitching. I felt sad that I couldn’t play, but I learned how much having an injury can suck. My dad is the most influential person to me, he has taught me to work hard in order to reach my goals in baseball, school, and life. In my freshman year, I only got one B, it felt very good because I worked hard and it paid off. [I’m motivated] to do well in school, so that I can make good money when I come out of college and retire early. Right now, Rose Hulman sounds like a good college to help me reach those goals. The school has a good engineering [program], and I could play baseball there. In the future I want to be able to relax, provide for my kids and play with my dogs, -Colin Hughes, 10](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/IMG-7573-475x366.jpg)
![“Im very proud of my field hockey career and how far Ive come in only three and a half years. I think that a lot of people have been doing a sport for years and years and they dont go anywhere with it. I feel like by talking to colleges and [field hockey] practices and managing, school, seven clubs, and field hockey four times a week, I think my time management has really grown in the past three years, - Mj Surtain, 11](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/DSC_0051-475x316.jpg)
