This year, there were a few new additions to the Gibbons educator community, one of whom is Whitney Chapman. 

Through her years in the field of education, Chapman has gotten a vast amount of experience in teaching within different environments. For her, Gibbons is one that has stood out among the rest.

Although this was Chapman’s first year teaching at Gibbons, she says her experience has been nothing less of welcoming. 

“I never felt like, even though I was coming into a new environment, that I didn’t know something or that I couldn’t ask questions if I had them,” said Chapman. 

Chapman says she’s been pleasantly surprised with the lively atmosphere, the students’ attentiveness to academics, and the welcoming environment she is now a part of. 

“You get the picture of the whole student here, versus just academics, because there’s so many ways for students to be involved in extracurricular activities,” said Chapman.

She began to get involved in different activities throughout the school, like yearbook, Lunch and Learn, and becoming an advisor.

“The Lunch and Learns during the day are really nice, and some of them have involved students which is really cool,” said Chapman. 

She’s loved getting involved and getting to know the Gibbons community a bit better, like going on her advisory service trip.

“Doing that with my advisory was really fun, because that’s definitely something I didn’t have in public school,” said Chapman.

Although it’s been an adjustment, Chapman said the change in setting was much needed, and she’s glad she took the leap to experience a positive change. 

While a bit different from her previous teaching experiences, especially the environment, Chapman has enjoyed experiencing the change of routine, like mass.  

“I love all school mass, it’s so much fun,” said Chapman.

She’s loved getting to know her students and new environment through her attentive involvement, and overall is glad to now call herself a part of the Gibbons community.