Praise for Jocelyn Sisson from former students.
When I first heard that I would have Ms. Sisson as my junior year English teacher, I was pretty scared: everyone knew that Ms. Sisson was never afraid to speak her mind, even if it meant telling you, in detail, how wrong you were. But, even though her class sometimes gave me heart palpitations, I always knew that Ms. Sisson’s ultimate goal was to make me a better writer. I learned so much from her, about both how to write an essay and how to think about the world. When I was her student and even after she retired, she has always made time for me to talk to her. Her support for my writing has been constant, and I would be much worse at writing without her help. Always unpredictable, sometimes out of pocket, and never boring, I will always remember Ms. Sisson for how she has impacted me as a writer and a thinker. Thank you Ms. Sisson!
Charis Collins
When I first saw that my English teacher would be Ms. Sisson, I was worried. I had heard she was a harsh grader and English class has never been my strong suit. However, Ms. Sisson is one of the most animated teachers I have ever had and always keeps her classes English teacher would be Ms. Sisson, I was engaging. Yes, she is a harsh grader, but she genuinely wants every student in her class to succeed. She has kept me accountable in my work and challenged me to become a better writer. Despite the fact she has been the backbone of NC’s English curriculum, she isn’t one to sit on her laurels. She is constantly trying to improve and is genuinely interested in her student’s perspectives. There have been many teachers who have had a great impact on my High School experience that I would have loved to honor, but Ms. Sisson has made me realize that | have so much more room to grow. I feel well equipped to face my next chapter in life as a college student and am ready to embrace new and exciting challenges with the tools she and my other teachers have taught me. I wish Ms. Sisson a happy retirement.
Hikari Ogawa
What to say about Jocelyn? Her reputation certainly precedes her. She is by far the hardest grader l have ever encountered, and doesn’t offer her students false platitudes. However, underneath all that she is just a big softy. She’s tough because she cares so deeply for all of her students. Throughout the year I was fortunate enough to be in her class. I was certainly subjected to her tough love approach, but I also got to see a more compassionate side of her that few people have the privilege of witnessing. She offered me love and support in a time when I needed it most, and while she may scare some people, she certainly doesn’t scare me. I know her love for her students guides all of her actions because I have been fortunate enough to receive that love, and I’m thankful everyday that I got to be her student.
Lucille Kaiser
Ms. Sisson was my AP Literature teacher junior year. At first, I was worried about having her because she was notorious for her harsh grading and tear-filled office hours. And while I cried every single time I met with her during the first semester, I quickly realized how lucky I was to have been placed in her class. No matter if I needed help with an assignment, or if I was just going through a rough time, Ms. Sisson was always there to support me in whatever way I needed. Though I am no longer in her class, she continues to check in on me regularly I will always be grateful to have been one of her students, for she helped me grow not only as a writer, but also as a person. North Central will never truly be the same without her, and her retirement signifies the end of an era.
Folasade Okeyemi
Ms. Sisson’s energetic, comedic, free-flowing teaching style is so unique and so refreshing compared to many other classes. While in other classes it often feels difficult to pay attention, it’s hard not to pay attention in Ms. Sisson’s class. A fountain of literary knowledge, Ms. Sisson will spew out a seemingly unlimited amount of help when you ask her for it, or even when you don’t ask her for it. What I appreciate most about Ms. Sisson, though, is her open-mindedness. She never assumes anybody to be right, or wrong, no matter the opinion or the person.
Elliot DeRyke
When I first walked into Ms. Sisson’s AP literature classes, I had no idea what was coming. I thought | knew how to write and read adequately, but after I turned in my first assignment, I quickly realized that I had a lot to learn. Through countless 8th period essay meetings, Ms. Sisson has not only taught me how to write well, but she has also transformed my understanding of the subject of English itself, and for that I will be forever grateful. In addition to Ms. Sisson’s academic influence, she has also been a major source of support for me. She has taught me to advocate for myself and she has also been an advocate for me. I have found I can always talk to Ms. Sisson about serious concepts or light-hearted ones, and I know I will miss her greatly when I leave North Central.
Katharine Hughley