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Welcome to our "Health Science Family"
While our THOA organization is made up of many amazing teachers, two instructors are focusing on the newbies out there. Below you will find a little more about their journey in the classroom as well as contact information. 

  My name is Linda Stanhope and I am a retired Health Science Teacher from Amarillo, Tx. After retiring I relocated to a small town outside of the DFW area to be closer to grandchildren and trees. I worked in the medical field as a medical technologist for 16 years before coming into the classroom where I taught for 24 years. And while I loved teaching for the most part, I remember what an adjustment it was coming from the world of medicine to the world of education in high school land. So I have made it goal in life to try to help new health science teachers make that transition. I know that there will be days when you have issues come up in the classroom…which if you have not already questioned your decision to make a career change, it will most likely happen sometime this semester. However, I feel you did not make a mistake; you can make a huge positive impact on the health care issues that face our nation and in the life of many bright and eager students. HOW AWESOME IS THAT!
 During my 24 years teaching, I was blessed to be introduced to some of the most amazing people who helped me become a better teacher. Creative, patient and kind.  I found working and sharing ideas helped my co-workers and students. And I taught many different courses inside the Health Science umbrella. And currently work with Texas HOSA on the competitive event team, so I can answer alot of those questions as well. Alisha and I will tag team sending you helpful tips and finding you experts, we may not always know the answer, but we probably know someone who does. Please feel free to email with questions or concerns at linda.stanhope6@gmail.com.


Hello! I hope you are well and excited about your upcoming journey as an educator. My name is Alisha Smith and I am a Health Science Teacher at Summer Creek High School in Humble ISD. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to welcome you all and be of assistance to you as you start this new journey
Before transitioning into education, I served in the medical field as a Physical Therapist Assistant. This experience has greatly enriched my approach to teaching health science, allowing me to bring real-world perspectives into the classroom. I've been blessed with the opportunity to teach for eight wonderful years now and can confidently say that being a health science teacher combines my love for healthcare and education – indeed, it's the best of both worlds.
The genesis of my journey in education began under the tutelage of the remarkable Linda Stanhope, who emphasized the transformative power of education. It was through her class that I first understood how profoundly we, as educators, can impact the lives of our students. Linda taught me that being an educator extends beyond imparting knowledge; it means instilling resilience, shaping character, and igniting a lifelong passion for learning in our students. She made me realize that every interaction provides an opportunity for positive transformation, which I have carried into my own teaching philosophy.
Being new may feel overwhelming at times, but please remember that Linda and I are here to help you!  Should you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate in contacting me at ansmith@humbleisd.net 
I am looking forward to working with you all. Let's make this academic year an enriching one not only for our students but also ourselves as educators.