The Person Behind the Apple, Chalkboard and Stickers: Gillian Wilson

Name: Gillian Wilson

School: Emerson

Grade: 5th Grade

Wheaton Patch: How long have you been at your current school? How long have you been a teacher?

Gillian Wilson: I have been here 8 years and 28 years total being a teacher.

WP:  What inspires you to work with children?

GW: When I was 5 years old had student teacher and I decided that I wanted to become a teacher. I want them to have a happy and productive time in school. I love their sense of humor.

WP:  What is your favorite hobby?

GW: Travel, reading, walking, and tracking Manchester United, they are the best soccer team.

WP:  What was your favorite vacation?

GW: I am on permanent vacation here. Since I moved to America we visited 28 states. Chicago and London are my favorite cities in the world.

WP:  Where did you go to college? Degree?

GW: From the University of St. Martin in England I got my degree in education and my masters in administration. I was a principal in the UK.

 WP: Who is your role model? Why?

GW: My mom. I had 3 younger siblings and she was somebody we always wanted to be. I still call her every week. She has been my constant inspiration. Do the best you can do and thats fine with her.

 WP: What is your favorite food? Restaurant?

GW: White Chocolate Grill in Naperville. I order the citrus soy glazed salmon.

WP: What is your favorite music?

GW: Mostly reggae. I like Bob Marley and the Whalers.

 WP: When did you get your first cell phone? What was it?

GW: It was 15 yrs ago. It was a Nokia and as big as a brick.

WP:  Do you have siblings? How many? Where in the order are you?

GW: I am the oldest and have three sisters who will not thank me for divulging their ages.

WP:  What is your favorite holiday? Why?

GW:  Christmas. When I was growing up we would go help out at soup kitchen in inner city London on Christmas day.

WP:  Did you play sports or do any extra-curricular activities in school?

GW: I played netball and hockey.

WP:  If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?

GW: I would go home.

WP:  What is your favorite board game?

GW: Monopoly or scrabble.

WP:  Coke or Pepsi? Or coffee? Tea?

GW: I don't drink pop and I would drink tea with milk.

WP:  What would you do with $1,000,000?

GW: I would buy a house in both countries.

 WP: Do you have any pets?

GW: No.

WP: What is your funniest memory since being a teacher?

GW: I was a kindergarten teacher. I had the students tell me a sentence and I would write it down. They would then have to draw a picture of what was going on in the sentence. The student said, "mummy making the bed." Sure enough the "mummy" had a hammer and nails making bed. The child is now a lawyer.

WP: What did you enjoy most about school growing up?

GW: I enjoyed my teachers I think that's why I have my love and respect for job.