Denise Gilpatrick teaches sophomore English at Altus High School. She enjoys teaching but she also enjoys being able to share her love of literature with the next generation.
 “I love revealing pieces of literature that are still relevant, even though the works themselves may be classics,” she said. “There are timeless, important messages in the literature I teach. I focus on pieces that address the human condition, like Lord of the Flies, Animal Farm, The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, and works like that.”

Gilpatrick is in her eighteenth year teaching at Altus. Before that, she also taught at Duke High School. 

The decision to become an educator was not one that she made right after high school. But she says that it was just something that felt right and she is glad for the decision she made.
 “I went back to school when I was 34 years old, so I had a lot of time to think about what profession I would like to attempt,” Denise said. “Teaching seemed natural. I’d taught Sunday School from an early age, and I excelled in English. I enjoy this age group; they are fun and energetic and are figuring out abstract thought processes, so it’s fun to see the light bulbs going off.”

While she is seeing her teaching career winding down, Gilpatrick says that not only is it important to impact the next generation of students, but it is also vital to have the next generation of teachers there and ready.

“As my years of teaching come to an end in the next few years, I realize how important it is to have new teachers waiting to take the place of us who will be leaving. I pray that our positions are filled with those who love kids and can adapt to technology that seems to be increasing in complications exponentially.”

When she is not teaching in the classroom, Denise has other ways that she loves to spend her time. 

“I enjoy spending time with my family and my church,” she stated. “It sounds cliche, but that is my absolute joy! Our grandchildren are our world! I also enjoy getting out to the gun range whenever I can”