Talks With Teachers

      Julia Thompson English teacher -- Vriginia Author of The First Year Teacher's Survival Guide      Segment I – Background and Inspiration   Tell your story. Where are you from and how long have you been teaching? What classes have you taught?  – Julia has taught for 37 years. She teaches 9th grade English at a high school in Fairfax Co., Virginia. Even though she has taught all kinds of subject and all kinds of grade levels, she is a high school English teacher.      Who has helped you in your journey to become a master teacher?  – She has had so many wonderful mentors over time. She believes we all need them no matter what stage of our career we are in. There was one mentor that changed her career, though, and that was her first principal. He stayed with her through the first few years of her career. He gave her solid advice every day, taking Julia under his wing. Whenever Julia needed him, he seemed to be a guardian mentor to help her. He even got her the job that she has now in northern Virginia. What