Drawing a diagram on the whiteboard, biology and AP Capstone teacher Sally Winter discusses cell cycles with her ninth-grade biology class. Soon, however, moments like these will become memories as Winter prepares to leave teaching to pursue a different path.
Growing up on a ranch, Winter got to observe her parent’s career paths, which helped inspire her journey to teaching.
“My mother was a science teacher; she taught at an elementary school, but her true passion was teaching high school biology honors as well as anatomy and physiology,” Winter said. “My father was a cowboy and a cattle rancher, and so that just developed my love for [both] animal sciences and natural sciences. It really was [what I saw] from my mother that showed me the value of teaching and what it takes to be a good science teacher.”
Winter teaches both Biology Honors and AP Capstone Research classes, allowing her to gain experience in both a traditional teaching and mentor-based style.
“I think biology [gives me] the role of a typical classroom teacher, standing at the front of the classroom, giving instruction, and having activities planned out in my classes,” Winter said. “I have a more mentor-like role in my AP Capstone classes. It’s more so making sure that the students are adhering to the deadlines of the capstone course load as well as science fair program, and having to navigate their independent projects and time management skills. It’s just more enjoyable to get to balance out those two strong suits that I feel as though I have, and I enjoy bringing out their skills and encouraging them in their journey.”
After teaching at West Shore for four years, Winter said she been able to foster close relationships with students and support them in their learning.
“My favorite part is developing relationships with students and being able to see them grow, having them come back year after year, and seeing what they accomplish,” Winter said. “I have this tradition with my husband every night where we go home and ask ‘what was your favorite part of the day?’ A lot of the time I’m coming home with stories of an a-ha moment that a kid had or a funny moment with my students that made me smile.”
Winter was a part of West Shore’s class of 2019 and attended the University of Florida, returning back to West Shore to teach in 2022.
“I’m a proud alumni of West Shore, and getting to attend all six years of my middle school and high school career really left an impression on me,” Winter said. “I look back and don’t regret a single moment of my high school career. I thoroughly enjoyed being a West Shore Wildcat, and so I knew that there was something special here. When a friend of mine told me in my senior year of college that there was a science position opening up at West Shore, and that I should give Mr. Fleming a call, that was the first thing I did. I thought that [there was] no better place to come back home to, so I was very excited at the prospect of being a Wildcat [again].”
Winter’s husband is a certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) and received the opportunity to travel around the country through locum positions, or temporary medical roles to fill staffing gaps.
“I’m not leaving for a lack or loss of love for teaching; I am going to miss that part very much,” Winter said. “I’m very proud of the hard work that [my husband] has put into his career. My husband and I will get to take contracts in several places across the country as much time as we see fit. I’ve always had this dream of traveling, and my husband has, too, and so he has been very patient and very supportive of me finishing out this dream, and so now it’s our turn to fulfill his and to support him in his journey as well.”
Once she travels with her husband, Winter said she has a few opportunities she can delve into and explore.
“I don’t know quite yet what I’m going to do when we leave, but I am a busy girl and I know I will find something that will keep me busy,” Winter said. “We have two playful pups, and I encourage myself to look into the fullest extent of dog training. But I am also a budding photographer; I have dabbled in wedding and couples photography in the past, and so I’d really like to develop that skill. I’ve already got a couple weddings lined up here this spring so I can just get my feet wet in that prospect. I’d also like to explore future career opportunities as well.”
Due to the unknown amount of time she will be away, Winter said she does not know if she will return back to teaching.
“I’m either going to spend a year away and realize that although teaching was a very important and very fulfilling role in my life, I’ll be ready to move on and try something new,” Winter said. “On the other hand, a year will go by and I’ll realize that I just can’t live without it, and I’ll come back. So I won’t know [if I’ll come back to teaching] until I’m away from it for a bit. I don’t have an end date on my travel, it may be as soon as next year, or I could find something new and exciting.”
After growing up on her family’s ranch, Winter said she sees potential opportunities in continuing her agricultural career.
“I think I’ll do wedding photography more in terms of supporting my family and as a hobby; I don’t want it to become more work than it is fun,” Winter said. “If I didn’t go back to teaching, I would really lean more into my agricultural roots and go back to the ranch in a more day-to-day role, much more so than I already am now. Now I just get to step back into that world when I’m home and visiting my parents. I think if I don’t decide to come back to teaching I would step into it more fully.”
Spending time at West Shore as both a student and teacher, Winter says she is grateful for the opportunities she has experienced, and she will continue to remember the impact it has had on her.
“I just want to thank West Shore for all that it has been for me,” Winter said. “I could not think of a more special place to be. There’s something truly amazing and magical happening with the students here, as well as the staff. I’m very thankful to all the memories and just everything that I’ve gotten out of this West Shore experience, both as a student and as a teacher.”
