Halimah Wells has a bachelor’s degree in African-American studies, but when she interviewed with Mr. Litz she had no idea she would get the opportunity to teach Marshall’s first African-American history class.
Along with teaching the brand new African-American Studies class, Wells will now work with the diverse English as a Second Language (ESOL) program.
“I thought, this is a dream come true,” Wells said. “I’m a total history buff, and especially something that you know, I focused on for, you know, my beginning of my university.”
While her curriculum covers topics as far back as the 1600s, Wells also hopes to discuss current issues that affect our generation like the Black Lives Matter movement.
“All those different things that have been happening, that your generation is experiencing, my generation experienced, hopefully we bring all of that into the classroom,” Wells said.
Wells taught English to friends from around the world while working on her master’s degree, and decided to make teaching her career. After spending six years as an English teacher in the United Arab Emirates, she decided to come home.
“I mean, I had a lot of fun,” Wells said. “And, you know, I learned a lot. But it really made me want to come home and be here, like forever.”
Now at Marshall, Wells said her favorite thing about the school is her students.
“I learn from them every day,” Wells said, “They’re bringing their rich cultures, their languages, and every day is a learning experience.”
Wells enjoys traveling, reading and spending time with her family. She has two children, and while her son graduated from James Madison High School in 2015, her daughter, a freshman, joined her mom among the new faces this year as a student at Marshall.