Erin McGrain: The Teaching Tigress!

Erin McGrain, Highlander Way Middle School

“What I love most about teaching is interacting with students and watching them grow socially and academically…”

While lots of great teachers seem to have been born knowing they’d end up leading a classroom someday, other equally skilled educators have discovered their true calling later in life–and almost accidentally. Erin McGrain, English/language arts teacher for 7th and 8th grade classes at Highlander Way Middle School, is one of them.

Having earned her first degree in psychology, Erin was already gearing up for a grad school stint towards an advanced degree in the subject when, short of cash, she decided to take jobs as a substitute teacher.

“Well,” she says, “I quickly fell in love with working with students in the classroom.”

And that was that: bye-bye advanced psychology degree, hello teacher training.

Now at the end of her second year teaching at Howell Public schools, Mrs. McGrain, an Eastern Michigan University Alumnus, says her number one goal is “to have a positive impact on student learning and achievement.”

Though Erin definitely feels she’s finally doing what she was born to do, she also admits that being an English teacher isn’t exactly a walk in the park. Her biggest obstacle? The curse of language arts teachers everywhere: there never seems to be enough time.

“The most challenging part of teaching is trying to work one-on-one with students. As an English teacher, it would be so beneficial to conference with each individual student about his or her writing, but the number of students we serve makes that very challenging.”

Perhaps that’s why Erin chose to found a Creative Writing Club at Highlander Way; to give students the individual attention and recognition essential to nurture their budding talents.

Outside of school, Mrs. McGrain is very involved in St. John’s Church in her hometown of Hartland, Michigan, where she volunteers as a religious education instructor.

When she’s finally done grading student writing, Erin shifts gears a bit and indulges in her secret passion: The Detroit Tigers. “My husband and I are huge fans and try and watch nearly every game,” she confesses. “Quite a social life, we have.”

Well, Let’s Go Tigers!  And Go, Mrs. McGrain!