Stephanie Garis is head of the Math Department at Enid High School. Including her, there are 14 teachers in the department. She graduated from Enid High in 1984. Garis is a wife and mother of two grown children. She teaches Honors Geometry to five classes of freshmen and sophomores a day. You can tell she loves teaching and helping students.
So how did Garis become a teacher? Well, she was a substitute teacher at Garber and fell in love with teaching. She was watching kids struggling with math, and it bothered her. She wanted to figure out how to help. She went back to school at OSU and graduated in 2006. She earned her Masters in Education Curriculum from the University of Texas, Arlington in 2011. She has taught at Enid High since 2016.
Enid High School Principal Craig Liddell talked with me about the head of the school’s math department. “She is a long-term educator. She is inspirational to students and peers alike. She is always thorough and gives the most genuine and honest effort possible.” Pausing he added, “She is particularly humble relating to the impact she has on our campus.”
Talking with Garis about her classroom, students today and student discipline, she smiled and commented about giving respect to get respect. But, as we talked more, she admitted that people and students tell her she has the “LOOK”. When the ‘look’ appears, it is time to buckle down and get some work done.
She teaches freshmen and sophomores every day, and I asked her about advice she might give a student wanting to do well in high school. She thought a moment and replied. “Do your best! Don’t compare yourself to others. Just do your best!”
Garis remembers EHS Band Director Bob Costello as an influence in her life. She recalled the expectations Costello set for the band and importance of meeting the expectations for the good of all.Stephanie Garis is alive, old school (in a good way) and loves kids. Any question is a good question! And, yes, just like any good math teacher, you still have to show your work. She is always willing to help with math or advice or a personal matter.
