Jody Lynn Tolley says she was “born to teach.”

For a brief moment she thought she would have a career at SeaWorld, until she realized the job would primarily be teaching guests. Instead, she decided to “go back to the source” and become a full-time teacher.

As Skyline High School’s American Sign Language teacher, Mrs. Tolley focuses on project-based learning where students incorporate numerous skills into larger activities, such as debating and performing plays in ASL.

Mrs. Tolley finds real joy when she acts as a bridge between the classroom and the real world. She loves teaching because she feels she makes a difference in the lives of others. Countless students who enter and exit her classroom have confirmed that feeling time and time again.

“Mrs. Tolley’s classroom is almost like a family at school. It is fun, safe, and a good place to be.”