Humans of LQHS: Meredith Wheeler’s journey to becoming an English teacher

Photo+courtesy+of+Meredith+Wheeler%3B+Design+by+Lexi+Noguera

Photo courtesy of Meredith Wheeler; Design by Lexi Noguera

Meredith Wheeler’s start in teaching was not without its challenges. While attending community college, she was a single mother raising her two kids. 

She feels it was a hard time; but as she grew deeper into her career, she realized her perspective changed the closer she got to achieving her goals and, most recently this past summer, earning her master’s degree in educational administration. 

Wheeler is an English teacher and instructional coach at La Quinta High School, where she has worked for six years. 

Every day, she’s inspired by her “beautifully blended and blessed family,” comprised of her husband and five kids, who all support each other together to create their family bond.

Prior to becoming a Blackhawk, she taught for half a year at Coachella Valley High School and then transferred to Desert Mirage High School—where she worked for nine years.

When she began working at LQHS, she found a mentor in former principal Dr. Rebecca Cook, who is now the director of personnel leadership development at Desert Sands Unified School District. 

Dr. Cook would ask her teachers to step out of their comfort zones and would do the same of what she asked her teachers to do. 

“She always practiced what she preached,” she said. “She also helped teachers self-reflect. She gets you to draw your own conclusion about yourself.” 

Using this advice, Wheeler was able to improve and grow as a teacher. 

“When it comes to things I do, and what I want to accomplish, I put a lot of pressure on myself to do well and to be good at all the things I take on,” said Wheeler. 

After graduating from Palm Desert High School, Wheeler was unsure about her post-graduation plans, so she attended College of the Desert for four years. She switched her major twice then transferred to Cal State University, San Bernardino, where she ultimately earned a bachelor’s degree in English.

“I really had a deep interest in psychology,” she said, “so I started that.” 

She then found comfort in poetry and literature, and she found that she clicked the most with her English professors. Wheeler then quickly became engaged and motivated to study English. 

The rest is history. 

“I didn’t know that I was going to be a teacher until I was in college and I started going into teaching,” she said.

She feels the desire to teach was always there, but she never knew until after she played around with classes in college. 

“When you read literature, you get into it and you start picking it apart and getting into the writer’s brain to what they are thinking,” Wheeler said. “It’s like peeling layers of an onion.” 

She also finds inspiration from her own children, who are former Blackhawks themselves. 

“Both my kids inspire me a lot and they’re 18- and 20-years-old. I think what inspires me is their world vision, and their young perception of life and the same experiences that I have with them,” she said.

As Wheeler continues to grow into her career, she can quickly pinpoint her favorite thing about being a teacher.

“Seeing my students every day, it’s that interaction with them,” she said, “when they’re very engaged.”

While she attempts to put herself in her students’ shoes, she reflects back to the past few decades of her life and what she hopes her students will learn from her own life experiences. 

“Now looking back, I’m like, ‘Well, it really wasn’t that bad.’ I really learned about the world and myself. While, you know, things are difficult now, it’s a good reminder to know [our life experiences are] only meant to make you a stronger, better person in the end. So remember that,” said Wheeler.

Humans of La Quinta High School is an ongoing series featuring Blackhawk students and staff. Follow us on Instagram @humansoflqhs and Twitter @lqhawkview