Teachers do not always know they want to teach when they go to college. Some had other careers in mind when they graduated. Lora Powell was one of those people. Before becoming a teacher, Powell was pursuing a career as a neonatologist, a doctor who helps premature babies. Her first son was born early, and she wanted to help other mothers like her. 

“I felt like I never got the answers I needed, and I thought I could do a better job than that,” Powell said. 

However, around the time she was accepted into medical school, she found out she was pregnant with her second son. Her advisor suggested that she turn to teaching until she could get accepted into medical school again. 

“I liked being in a classroom when I did my student teaching, and I told my husband I’m not going to med school, I want to get a master’s degree in education and teach,” Powell said. 

Although Powell is a science teacher, she loves history, and she finds European history to be the most interesting. While her husband was stationed in Italy for the United States Air Force, Powell taught on the base, which fueled her love for Europe. 

“I would like to tie history into science,” Powell said. 

While she has taught at other places, Etowah is different than other schools. Powell loves that the outdoor campus allows student time to breathe fresh air between classes.  

“I think that it’s nice that you can get outside once and awhile, and you’re not stuck in one building all day long,” Powell said. 

Powell is glad to be teaching at Etowah this year and to share her experiences with her students.