Join Dayna Owen for an engaging episode featuring her son, Canon, who is an FISD K-12 graduate and daughter-in-law, Maddie, who is an FISD teacher. Dive into discussions on voting ages, phone privileges for kids, favorite teachers, and life as an educator and student in Friendswood.
Laugh along as we explore parenting quirks, social media's impact on teachers, and even a fun interview question that sparks reflection. Tune in for a mix of heartfelt moments and light-hearted banter on FISD's The Podcast!
Join Dayna Owen for an engaging episode featuring her son, Canon, who is an FISD K-12 graduate and daughter-in-law, Maddie, who is an FISD teacher. Dive into discussions on voting ages, phone privileges for kids, favorite teachers, and life as an educator and student in Friendswood.
Laugh along as we explore parenting quirks, social media's impact on teachers, and even a fun interview question that sparks reflection. Tune in for a mix of heartfelt moments and light-hearted banter on FISD's The Podcast!
Speaker 1 See this. How about if you watch some of us first, if you like. Okay, I can handle it. Or you can hit around a little bit. Just for fun. Yes. It's just not fine. Speaker 2 If there's one person I can. And then I'm. Speaker 1 Just fooling everyone else and having. Speaker 3 Two and a half Cameron and Blake and Trent and watching her stink whenever No one's. Speaker 1 Going to understand that. Speaker 2 I just want everyone to be able to play. Wait on me. Speaker 1 No time. I understand. Okay, well, listen, we're going to get started with this podcast, so. Well, welcome to season three, Episode 11 of Feisty, the podcast where Kelsey Girls and Dana Owen, that's me, have the pleasure of interviewing interesting people and discussing anything and everything. Friends with esteem Suicide Note My sidekick Craig is out today with she's got some respiratory issues going on, so it's just going to be me. Speaker 1 Well, not actually just me. We may have on today two of my favorite all time guests that I'm super excited. This is where I would hit a button and the crowds would start cheering and clapping and all of that. But one is an fiesty K12 grad. We're very we're very proud of that, by the way. And the other is a current employee at Westwood Elementary. Speaker 1 Before I introduce him, I don't know if I've said this before on the podcast, but I am officially retiring this year in May and so I thought before I left, I thought it would be fun to have some of my family on and I have invited on my oldest son, Cannon. COOPER Owen and his beautiful, lovely wife, Mattie Owen, who is a teacher, as I said before, at Westwood, second grade teacher at Westwood Elementary. Speaker 1 Welcome you to. Thank you. Hello. Speaker 3 Excited? Speaker 1 I don't know how excited you actually. You're excited. This is it really is fine. It's it's a good time. Listen, if both of our if both of our audience members listen this week, then the half. Speaker 2 Of it is me. Speaker 1 So. That's right. I'm part of the crew. Oh, and the other one is Patricia Polski. We are. Amy listens to these podcast, so. Speaker 3 She actually does. Listen. Speaker 1 Let's not get into that right now. Think I'm just going to believe that Mimi listens. Whether or not she does, I'm not quite sure. Okay. But welcome. I did have this thing written out that I was going to introduce both of you, get into specifics of who you are. And it but then I realized, how about you to just do that? Speaker 1 So what would be more interesting for each of you? Introduce yourself or Mattie for you to introduce Canon and Canon to introduce Mattie. That's what I want to do. Yeah. Okay, let's do that. Go for it, Mattie. You start, Ken, and you want your card to start? Yeah. Okay. Can you start? Speaker 3 So, my wife, Mattie, she's a teacher at Westwood. She's been a teacher for X amount of years. Five or six years. Feels like forever. I mean, do I need to get into, like, character traits? Am I just. Speaker 1 Anything you would like to add? A beautiful, beautiful blond? Yes, she is. Speaker 3 Oh, adorable. Yeah, adorable. Works very hard at her job. Speaker 1 Mattie, What Enneagram are you? Speaker 2 I need to take the test again. Speaker 1 Okay? You bet. You think she doesn't. Speaker 3 Believe in Enneagram? So that's something I love about. Speaker 2 Maybe, like, a seven or a six or. I heard two, but I'm like. Speaker 1 Are you perfectionist? Speaker 2 Really? Kind of certain things. Speaker 1 Can. Is she a perfectionist? Speaker 2 Uh, kind of. Speaker 3 She's a perfectionist when she wants to be. And she also. Speaker 2 Yeah, sometimes I'm. Speaker 3 Not at all okay. When she doesn't want to. Speaker 2 You should see my house. You know, it's. Speaker 3 Not a perfectionist. Speaker 1 Your house looks. Your house looks great. Okay, Maddie, introduce Cannon. Speaker 2 Cannon is awesome. He's super funny. He's a great sense of humor. Speaker 1 He is very. Speaker 2 Very quick witted, super big servant. Does a lot of things for me in my job that when I get home, I don't want to do a lot of things. And he has all of that ready for me when I get home. He has a really cool job where he gets to do some sales and be an expert on trucking equipment, which is really cool. Speaker 2 And he's done a lot of different things and he wears a lot of hats and he's very knowledgeable and all the things that he has hats for any love sports. He loves football, all sports. So every day we watch some different sport at our house. Speaker 1 I actually would have told you that and you know this, but I actually would have told you that Cannon Owen would have ended up being a a coach. Yes. I'm kind of surprised he didn't go that route. But I do see you. Speaker 2 You may coach at some point. Speaker 1 I do see you coaching. Maybe your kids. Yeah, one day if you decide to have kids. But you do not have kids right now. You do have. However, a dog. Speaker 2 We do have a dog. Speaker 1 What's your dog's name? Douglas. Douglas Cerise. And he's a. Speaker 2 He is. Speaker 1 RC. Speaker 2 He's he's a Bernie Doodle. We're just going to see is a Bernie Doodle. Speaker 1 That's right. Yeah. Bernard. Bernard It all Yeah. Brown, black, white. Speaker 2 More black, white. Speaker 1 Why does he have a little brown a little. Speaker 2 Bit on his ears. Speaker 1 He did when he was younger. Yeah, he does now, but. Okay, so we're going to start let's just start with a super easy question. So why don't you two start by sharing your political views and who you plan to vote for in the next election matter. Speaker 3 Go ahead. You start. Speaker 1 It's like super cheesy, so to say it. Speaker 3 It's pretty awesome. Speaker 1 I think I'm so funny, but if every time I try to crack a joke and then ask John to rate how cheesy and mother like it is, I would. Speaker 3 They're all going to be bad. Speaker 1 They're all bad. Speaker 3 If you think it's funny, they're probably bad propaganda. Speaker 1 Okay, you got me. Speaker 2 Me though. I bet she laughed that. Speaker 1 Oh, my mother, by the way, thinks I am one of the funniest people on the planet. She thinks I'm funny. Just wait. Speaker 3 You are funny. Speaker 1 So I did see recently that a question is, should we lower the voting age to 16? What are you all what are your opinions about that? Speaker 2 No. Speaker 3 I think we're already a very uneducated group of people. And to throw in another two years of uneducated children killing. Speaker 1 All. Speaker 2 16 year olds are uneducated. I wouldn't say that. I just fixated. Speaker 1 Enough to vote. Speaker 2 Right. I feel like 16 year olds are the most vulnerable to be swayed in a certain way, right? Not based on research, but more of online. What's everyone on TikTok thinking? You know, and not such a good. Speaker 1 Way to verbalize that. That's a good way to explain why that might not be the best. However, we do give them keys to a car, right? But we got to grow up sometimes. But let's not start with voting. Right? Speaker 3 Right, right. Speaker 1 I'm probably not a good I. Good idea. Right. Right. I can tell right now that having to be on a podcast with me for CONAN own might be one of the most cringeworthy things that he's done in a long time. But I do think we're going to have fun today with some questions that we have. So are you listening to any good podcast or watching any good series or anything like that on TV? Speaker 1 What how do you spend some of your time, your downtime? Speaker 3 Yeah, my podcast game is like a religious like every every week I have five podcasts I'm listening to. Speaker 1 But now you drive a lot. You're on the road a lot, right? And like all over the state of Texas. So you have great you have a lot of time for parties. So what's your number one podcast right now? Speaker 3 Oh. Speaker 1 Keep it clean. Speaker 3 Yeah, I like doing Joe Rogan. I agree. That's probably the. Speaker 1 Oh, Joe Rogan. Speaker 3 The easiest answer. Everyone's turning off the episode probably right now. But yeah, I just listen like, listen to different stuff that Did you. Speaker 1 Listen to him? Oh, was it Chris White? What was that guy's name? Speaker 3 Katt Williams. Speaker 1 Did you listen to that podcast? Speaker 3 Kind of halfway. Speaker 1 He's a weird. Speaker 3 Yeah, there. Just weird, weird stuff. Yeah, that I love. Speaker 1 That. It keeps it interesting for sure. Right. You get to you get to hear all different subject matters and all that sort of stuff. Matty What are you kind of what's your go to your home from work before you go to sleep? Okay. Take out playing with Doug. Yeah. Okay. What's your like? If you could have more time to do this, you do this. Speaker 2 Honestly, like I don't do a lot of productive things when I get home. Speaker 1 Well, I don't have to be productive, but what do you enjoy doing outside of work? Okay. And Doug. Speaker 2 Are you talking about, like, TV and podcasting? Speaker 1 Like, imagine just because if you had more time to do anything you would spend it doing. Speaker 2 I really like creating things like I really do. I really do. So when I have something to create. So like, my brother's getting married, okay? He's getting married in June, which is exciting. And I have made a lot of the things or like invitations for a shower and all that kind of stuff, and I really enjoy doing that. Speaker 1 So Matty and Keenan both have a sibling named Caden. Speaker 2 We do. Speaker 1 You all have that in common. That's interesting. Speaker 3 Yeah. Same age. Speaker 1 Yeah. Speaker 3 I think we figured out that talking to both parents that they probably named them after the same person like player Heisman was in the Heisman race at the time. Okay. Yeah. So it's like same. Speaker 2 Origin of the name. Speaker 1 Yeah, right. It's awesome. Oh, that is. That's it. That's so interesting. Yeah. Speaker 2 So interesting. Speaker 1 Interesting to think about when that happened to your mom and that happened to me, right. That in the works were Cannon and Matty I know back then. Speaker 2 And then our kids will have two uncle kids. Speaker 1 Oh, I didn't think about that one. Speaker 2 Cool and not cool. Speaker 1 Sorry, my brother. You just said the other day like. Yeah. Never during your days did. Oh, that's very. So that's in June. Yeah. Okay. So I enjoy doing that, but. Speaker 2 I don't do that all the time. A lot of the things I do is like, go on social. Speaker 1 Media. Speaker 2 I like playing games on my phone. It's embarrassing. Oh, what's. Speaker 1 Your favorite game to play on your phone? Speaker 2 Okay, so it's not good. It's like a town game that you like. Make a town. Speaker 3 You serve the your residents. You're the mayor. Speaker 1 I'm like the mayor of the town. Right. All right. Speaker 2 It's really silly, but like, I harvest things and I put things together. It's just mindless. I really, like mindless when I get home because I make so many decisions throughout the day. Right? So many. And I'm so needed all day long. And so when I get home, I'm just like, I'm taking care of my town. Speaker 1 Yeah, like, yeah, I think that's great. Speaker 3 Sometimes I think about myself and Doug shoes. Yeah, he may think that, like, my mom's a mayor. Yeah, she's a teacher. Like, she was a teacher. Speaker 1 She is the mayor. Excuse me. Do you ever talk to Doug about your town that you're taking care of? Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Speaker 2 It's the name of the town is actually called Doug Toplis. Speaker 1 Doug? Truthfully? Yes, I like that. Speaker 2 Now, everyone of I see those, which is. Speaker 1 Funny. It was established in what year? Speaker 2 Oh, I've had this game since I was in high school. Speaker 1 Okay, so establishing what year? Speaker 2 My ten year anniversary was this week. Speaker 1 I haven't been playing bridge in years. I read downloaded it like. Speaker 3 All right. Speaker 1 Double Gonzaga. Oh, isn't that crazy? That is. That's crazy. That's amazing, actually. Yeah, but. Speaker 2 I haven't been playing consistently for ten years. I don't want people to think that. Speaker 1 It doesn't matter what people think. It's okay. Speaker 2 But I do. I do play that game. I watch a lot of tech talk. I do a lot of stuff like that. Speaker 1 Yeah. Speaker 2 Listen, a podcast walk. Speaker 1 Yeah, they like to walk that game. Speaker 3 Whenever you start it. It's like you're in the Pilgrim times and then you have to, like, progress your city and all these things. I have to show you a city now is like futuristic. Speaker 1 It's cool. Speaker 3 It just means she's put in a lot of hours. Speaker 2 And too much time into it. Speaker 1 Embarrassing. But yes, listen, we all have there was guilty pleasures that we like tennis, that we like to do and spend our time. Speaker 2 There's a lot more people doing that and playing games like that than you think. Speaker 1 Oh, I know. Oh, no, I get it, everybody. Yeah, I get it. Speaker 2 Shout out to some of my friends at work who also have town games. Speaker 1 Okay, I'm not. Speaker 2 The only one. Speaker 1 I don't think anyone's judging you. Right. This is a judge free environment. This is a safe, safe place. Safe place. So let's talk technology, which is what we've kind of already started talking about. Perfect. By the way, you, too, were first generation having cell phones with parents that did not grow up experiencing that. Speaker 3 Right. Speaker 1 And, you know, when I think back, I was so proud of my boys will not have phones until they're in the sixth grade, which I held out to the sixth grade. I look back and think, that is absurd. You're like, what, 11? Yeah, 11. Okay. And I was so proud of that. Parents, hear me. Now, if you can hold out, you hold out as long as you can with cell phones. Speaker 1 So what are you to think? You're in your late twenties, mid late twenties. What do you think about technology for kids? Matt is a teacher. What do you think? And then answer that question. What do you think about technology, really specifically cell phones for kids? And then I want to get it on record. What age do you think you're going to allow your child to get a cell phone? Speaker 2 Okay. So my parents told me I had to be 13. Speaker 1 Okay. So what grade is that? Is that a freshman? Seven. Seventh. Speaker 2 Okay, so it's in seventh grade. Speaker 1 Okay. Speaker 2 When I was one of the later people to get a phone. Speaker 1 I think that. Speaker 2 Phones as a device to call someone and to text someone is is. Speaker 1 Fine. Fine. Yeah. Speaker 2 I think phones have evolved beyond what phones were when we got phones, you know? So for me, I'm okay with my 13 year old having a flip phone, right? Speaker 1 You know, a phone where they could just call or text. Exactly. Or maybe even play some games. Speaker 2 Yeah, I play a little. I don't even remember those, like, Tetris kind of games. Those are fun, Right? Right, right. Keep it simple. Speaker 1 Keep it simple. Speaker 2 But I do have some kids with phones. Speaker 1 Oh, you do? You have second graders with phones. Speaker 2 It is kind of wild whenever like a cell phone goes off. Speaker 1 So what does that look like? Do you have So what are your rules? They're not allowed to have their cell phones out. Speaker 2 Yeah, I don't. I turn it off. Speaker 1 Yeah, I've. Speaker 2 Had one time I've had a parent call, so, like divorced parents, a parent calls the cell phone. Speaker 1 Yeah. Speaker 2 And I picked it up so that I'm like, Hey. Speaker 1 I've always found that that's the major reason why a kid has a phone is a parent believes that they need to have a phone to get a hold of that child. But I didn't realize they were as young as second grade carrying phones. Speaker 2 But we have different technology now. Like I also have students that have the watches, which. True, That's another way to get a hold of your kid without your kid having an entire computer in their hands at all times. Right? So I would rather my kid have that. If you need to know where your kid is because you can still text and call off of the watch. Speaker 1 Would your kid answer a watch their watch in the middle of your class? Speaker 2 I haven't had that happen. Okay. But it definitely could. Speaker 1 I could. Yeah, but. Speaker 2 All of my ones with it, I don't even realize they have it. Speaker 1 So what if they were taking a test and you looked at Joey over there and he was like, Google the answer to three times three. I was laughed so hard. Speaker 2 That's the first thing I would do. And then I'd be like. Speaker 1 Ooh, you think you live Siri, What's the answer to what's a great what's a great second grade class? Speaker 3 Just like seven minus three. Speaker 1 Yeah, Yeah. Speaker 2 I have seen them like try to use a calculator app and I'm like, Yo. Speaker 1 Hey, come on. Speaker 2 But phones for kids, I just think technology itself like them. The earlier you introduce it to your kid, it's just I just have seen such a decline even in attention span and ability to just finish work or be proud of work or social skills and it just really irritability is like an all time high. I can tell the kids that go home and just get on their device and then come back to me because they are just like fidgety and irritable at all times of the day because they just want their computer. Speaker 2 Yeah. So I really try not to play into that at school as much because I'm like, I don't know how much screen time you're getting at home, but I'm going to try to control that here. Speaker 1 Because. Speaker 2 If parents are trying to keep their kids off their computer and then I'm like, go do everything on your computer all day, like, right, I'm making it worse, right? Speaker 1 Yeah. There's a there's a tough balance. I know. You know, parents want to know what kind of screen time goes on in their kids class. And I understand that completely. And you know, your are in a little bit of a strange world as teachers where you're trying to not necessarily second graders, but we're trying to prepare students for the future. Speaker 1 Yeah. And, you know, and that's going to be with computers. However, there is a balance of that where kids need that social time and that playtime and that brain time of trying to figure things out and problems out on their own and everything. Speaker 2 Should it be a computer? Speaker 1 Right. Right. Everything shouldn't be a computer, right? Yeah. Speaker 2 So that's been kind of tough. But at the same time, like, I think it's worth it in the end for sure. So. Speaker 1 Yes. And what do you think? What's your opinion about cell phones for kids? And let's get it on the record when when his dad saying that the kids can have a cell phone. Speaker 3 Yeah, I think what Mattie said was like, perfect. They may need a phone to communicate, but they don't need Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, they don't need social media. So it's simple, kind of dumbed down version, perfect. But like an iPad, you know, there's like the stereotype, the iPad kid, as soon as they go to dinner, sit them down, Here's the iPad and yeah, leave us alone. Speaker 1 Right. Speaker 3 I think that's where it gets out of hand. And it could be very detrimental to the kid, to the relationship with your parents. But yeah, I, I don't know. I it may be that in like 20 years that I'm not even talking about computers because I is so crazy. So it's who knows where we're where we're going. But yeah, I think the quicker you make your life easier, your kid's life easier. Speaker 1 Or more comfortable. Speaker 3 Or more comfortable or. Yeah, they're cooler. I mean, part of having a phone is like, Look, I have a phone. It's not even what you can do with it, right? Calling and text status. Speaker 2 Of. Speaker 3 It. Yeah. It's boring to actually call your parents to pick you up from practice or whatever it is, but yeah, I just think that it's so the dopamine that you get, especially as a kid, is right on like crazy to think they can get that, you know, that click of a button. But like, I don't, I don't know. Speaker 3 I think sixth grade is probably fine when they're going to. Speaker 2 Practices. Speaker 3 Right? Yeah. Staying in overnight at friend's houses and away from the house. Speaker 1 Well in and you know you just have to be smart now you'll have the capabilities because your know you grew up with phones so you're a little bit different than right. You can do better than us as parents in that you understand how it all works. You understand that there are parent controls, you are the parent. And so you can make those decisions and you know. Speaker 1 That's right. Speaker 3 Yeah. And teach them the lessons of why you don't want to be on your phone. Right. You know, I mean, you didn't know why you wouldn't want to be on your phone. It's just like your eyes. Speaker 1 We didn't know who we were. I feel like maybe you would have a different opinion, but I felt like we were really good at your on your phones when we were eating. You weren't on your phones like my big rule in the car. You're not going to have on headphones. You're not going to be like over in your own world listening to your own music. Speaker 1 We're in this car together as a family, right? I mean, if we were taking a trip that might look a little bit different. But, you know, so and you already said Canada matter. You said you were seventh grade. Yeah. Yeah. How? And you two are both good about like when we are out doing things, you're not awkwardly on your phone, you're really good about being present and being in the moment with the people that you're with, so that doesn't seem to be a struggle with you necessarily. Speaker 3 Before you move on. I do think that we will have airtags implanted in our kids when they're one before we say anything. That's what I believe. Speaker 1 Okay. Okay. Now we want. Okay, You're laughing. I do not understand. I do not understand why we can put sort of implants in dogs to be able to track them. But we're afraid to do that with our own children. And I'm not talking about when they're 17, even though I don't see the problem with that. But when they're older adults knowing exactly where they are. Speaker 1 But when they're five, right? Yeah, I would I not have the right to know exactly where they are. Speaker 2 But then when you get it, do you go get your chip removed? Yeah, right. Speaker 1 Okay. Yeah. You go get your chip removed. Speaker 3 No, you can't. I'm your parent. I mean. Speaker 1 If you can get attached Tattoo. No, you're 18. You're an adult. You can go. If you can go get a tattoo at 18, you don't have to ask your parent. Speaker 3 But what if you know we get another? No. Everyone need to keep keep your chip in. We we're going to say I. Speaker 1 Think. Speaker 2 This is a fear of like other people having access to that chip. Speaker 1 Right. The problem is when you share your chip ID with your girlfriend at 13. Yeah, exactly. And then they want to follow you, right? Yeah. I mean, your. Speaker 3 Dad knows where you are and. Speaker 2 But I get it. That's I think that's the beauty of those watches. Not that the kids are just going to have it on all the time, but. Speaker 1 That's. Speaker 2 True. You know, where your kid is all the time, but you don't have something implanted into their body. Speaker 1 Yeah, no, that's true. Speaker 2 We do have a chip in our dog, by the way. Speaker 1 So I don't know. That's a good that's a good point. By the way, I want you to know, Mary, does your mom know where you are? 360. Does she know where you are at all times? Speaker 2 No, I don't share my location with my mom. Speaker 1 Okay. Because, you know, a lot of people do. Speaker 2 I the only person I mean, I have a lot of people that have my location on like the Apple location services. That's just for convenience. Speaker 1 You have to share it with them. Yeah. And I'm on share it with them. Yeah. Would they know that you and shared it with them? Yeah. Does that upset you if someone unshared their location with you. Speaker 2 Know, because I'm assuming they're probably on sharing it with everyone. I mean, I have people from college that I used to like hang out with all the time that I never see. I have my location. Yeah, it's kind of fun. I my college roommate came in town. I guess it was like three weeks ago, and I don't even know if she knew that I lived in Friendswood, but she was in Alvin and she pulled up her location and she was like, Dude, I'm like six miles from you. Speaker 1 Like nearby. You can see who's nearby is at the point of that sort of thing. Yeah. Speaker 2 And I'm like, Come see me. But like, I would have never known. She's close to me if. Yeah, it obviously I don't trust everyone with my location. Right. But I share my location with can I call the time, which is nice. Speaker 1 I think that's weird. Speaker 3 Yeah. Not all that. Speaker 1 I mean, Khan. Speaker 2 Travels, so. And if he's. Speaker 1 But Kelsey does it too. She in shock I think it's really sharing across. Speaker 2 There's been times he's driving across like the country Of course I want to know if he's okay and he doesn't answer his phone. Speaker 1 So I don't. Speaker 2 Even know. Speaker 1 Where he's at at that First. He doesn't answer, is it, sir? It's very present. Speaker 2 Like you said. Speaker 3 Very present. Speaker 1 Okay, that's good. You know, but it it's an ongoing I guess I'm getting to the point. This is a I have a lot of friends that they know the location of all their children at all times. And most of these children are adults. I think that's weird. Yeah, I would love to know what people think about that one topic because I think it's strange. Speaker 1 I think, you know, sometimes maybe I'm probably the bad mom and I should know now is showing me a picture of the city of Friendswood and where they're located all over the city. I get it. I think it's cute. I just I'm not used to it. I don't want to know where all my kids are at all the time. Speaker 1 It's just like too much for me. But I guess. And Young wouldn't even let me. You wouldn't even let me use 360 when you were in college. You were like, No, no. Yeah. No, I honestly, I would have never looked because it's. Speaker 2 Different mom style. Yeah, I would. My mom would look at it. Speaker 3 I wouldn't share my location with anyone if it wasn't for her. So I'm not like, just. Speaker 1 Yeah, Do guys show their locations with their share, their locations with other guy friends? No, No, that's not something. I'm not in. Speaker 3 One of those groups. That's a different group. Speaker 1 Okay. Yeah. Okay. I don't. Speaker 2 I think that there are some, but no, not any of Canon's friends, right? Speaker 3 Not normal guys. Speaker 1 Okay, So let's talk about growing up in Friendswood canon for you specifically, and just education being a part of education and feisty. And so and I'm trying to stay out of the weeds a little bit because I don't want to get too serious on this podcast necessarily. But think about teachers that you loved. What are some quality of those teachers that you loved? Speaker 1 What made those teachers really for both of you met one. What made you want to be a teacher? Maybe it was teachers in your life, or what are some personalities or characteristics of those teachers that made you fall in love with with them? Speaker 2 Is this question for me or canon? Both. Okay, I'll start to answer your question on why I wanted to be a teacher. It did not start out from a very great reason, honestly. Speaker 1 Either. Speaker 2 It started with like, Well, if I'm thinking about my life, I really want to have kids. And if I want to have kids, like just kind of working backwards. So like, if I want to have kids, then it would make sense for me to be a teacher. And I really like working with kids and my mom was a teacher, so I'll just be a teacher. Speaker 2 So then I went to school and I didn't really get into a classroom really until I was a junior in college. So then it's like, I don't really know what I'm doing and why I'm doing this, but I'm enjoying it. Speaker 1 Teaching is a great it's a hard profession, but it's a great profession, right? It's hard, right? But it's it has some it has some pros and cons to it. Obviously every job does, but yes. Yeah. Speaker 2 So I didn't really understand why I was meant to be a teacher or why I wanted to be a teacher until I became a teacher in my first two years I taught. So I went to A&M and I taught and Brian I see, which is a little bit of a rougher area, but I it was tough. I was that's. Speaker 1 A hard district to start. And I was. Speaker 2 I was like a mom to 17 kids. So because their parents were working all the time, they would get home sometimes to no one being home. And I was their source of all adult like quality time, basically, and dealing with all of those emotions. And it was really, really tough. But it was just really cool of like, I really like I care about what kids learn, like academically, that's great. Speaker 2 But like the point of being a teacher is not what academically they're going to learn. It's whether they feel seen, whether they feel loved, whether they feel important and connections. Yeah. So those connections with kids and I know that I love teaching because I have had to move schools because of where we've moved location wise since my third, third move. Speaker 2 And every time, even every year like last year, my kids went from Westwood to Bales and it's like we're walking around the school and we're all sobbing. It's like, you just make such a connection with kids and they're like all my, like little best friends by the end of the year. And so it's really hard to have them move on. Speaker 2 But that's how, you know, you know, you love what you're doing. You know, when you put everything into it all the time. And that's why I'm so exhausted. But it's worth it, you know, Right? Speaker 1 You get to see your students that go over to Bales, like you get to see them. Speaker 2 I went over to Bales yesterday, actually, and it was awesome because I did like a learning walk where I went over there to learn from third grade and I went in the classroom and I'm like, Hey, what are you working on? Like talking to my kid? What is your goal like? And I had some of my students come and show me their entire classroom, teach me what they were doing. Speaker 2 It was just really cool and just getting to see them and still have that relationship with them and then feel comfortable to come up. To me. It's like everything, you know, That's wonderful. Getting letters even from kids from after I've moved on. Like I got a letter two weeks ago from a girl that I taught in Katy about how I changed your life. Speaker 2 And it was just like, Oh, this is why I do it. Speaker 1 This is. Speaker 2 Amazing. Speaker 1 Oh, that's so sweet. Karen, we're going to get into later what it's like being the spouse of a teacher, but what is the personality of some teachers that were And listen, if you feel you want to give any shout out to the teachers that. Yeah, namedrop. Speaker 3 Yeah. I had a lot of great teachers too that were like kind of different, but they're kind of the same. I don't know. Westerfield and Scott. Speaker 1 Yeah. Speaker 3 There are two different people, I would think personality wise, maybe, but I don't know what it was. I mean, Westerfield I did like very well in her class. I loved math. So that was very easy. Came naturally. Speaker 1 Well, I remember you fell in love with Westerfield because she was so you were struggling one year because you had moved into a different. Speaker 3 Yes. The year before. Speaker 1 The year before. And she was a great tutor for you. And that's kind of when you fell in love with her and she would speak positive into you, Right? Right. Yeah. Speaker 3 Well, I don't know necessarily how much of that she did. I just know being, like, going to class. I had this desire to, like, listen to what she was saying. Like, I wanted to give her as much respect as I could because she gave me her extra time. Maybe it was what it was. Speaker 2 So you felt. Speaker 3 Seen? Felt seen. Yeah, exactly. And I also was so smart, so good at math. So it was easy math. Speaker 1 It did always come easy to you except for that one. You. I don't know what happened. Yeah, I don't. I don't remember what happened. It was a transition between junior high and high school and, I don't know, sophomore year? Speaker 3 Yeah. It wasn't freshman year. Sophomore year? I don't know. I don't know what it was. Speaker 1 I don't either. Speaker 3 It was. Speaker 1 But you loved Westerfield. Speaker 3 Westerfield. Love Scott. And he taught a fun class. Speaker 1 Yeah, he taught forensics. Forensics? Yeah. You liked his personality? Yeah. On that. Speaker 3 Straight. Yeah. Yeah. And he would have, like, the Question of the day, and it would have nothing to do with anything. Forensics. And I just. That was so easy to get me in because we would talk about whatever it was, and everyone had their answer. So everyone got to go around the room and give their answer. The question seems simple. Speaker 3 It was just, yeah, it was a great. We just enjoyed it. Yeah. A joy to join him. He likes sports, so that probably was easy to to have that connection there. But a lot of my coaches like Coach Harris, I loved offensive line coach, so we were very, very tight. Like I just you know I would do anything for Coach Hair said to do it, you know. Speaker 1 Have you keep up with where he is now? Speaker 3 So the last I saw, Baytown Lee or Baytown Sterling. Speaker 1 I really don't know the answer. I was just wondering if, you know, like where I know he left Friendswood. I just don't know if you. Yeah, he was. Speaker 3 He still coaching? He Yeah, he's I think he could do he could have a head coaching job. I think he's like he knows football, he understands how things work. So he's he's great. Yeah. I loved him. Yeah. Yeah. Speaker 1 Reflecting on your time as students, do we address that? Did you want to say anything else about that? Did you want to give any shout outs, Matty, to any of your high school? You grew up in a. Speaker 2 Okay, I'll start. Speaker 1 Private Christian schools. I was at almost no. Okay. Boys and girls. Hmm. Speaker 2 My graduating class was 55. Speaker 1 Okay? And you pretty much knew all those 55 since you were in kindergarten. Speaker 2 I moved to that school when I was in fourth grade. Okay. Yeah. And my mom actually taught me at that school, so my mom was my high school math teacher, and then she transitioned from being a math teacher to the school college guidance counselor. Speaker 1 Did your mom like, give you extra credit for doing things around your house? Speaker 2 Me and her, We would get into it like I would be taking a test and crying because she would not help me on the tests. Like that kind of stuff. Speaker 1 Well, you and your mom are two different personalities. Yeah. So I can't even imagine what it would be like to have your child as a student. Oh, yeah. My boys were in the same high school when I was an assistant principal. I was a nervous wreck for those four years, by the way. But yeah, so I can imagine that was difficult for you and your mother. Speaker 1 Oh, yeah. Speaker 2 Because I would get away with before being like, they never taught me this. But then she was like, I taught you that. Speaker 1 You know, like before I was able to like to say that to your peers and more. She's like, Oh, no, I taught you that. Speaker 2 Yeah, I taught you that this. Speaker 1 Day. Speaker 2 And some of my other teachers, they would help me, you know, And she was just like, if you don't know it, you don't know. Like, I'm not going to sit here on the tests and give you a. Speaker 1 Hand, right? Speaker 2 But I had a lot of great teachers, like a ton k all the way up to 12th grade. I'm still friends with, I think four or five of my teachers on Facebook. I'm friends with my kindergarten teacher, my third grade teacher, and my fourth grade teacher. Speaker 1 Do they know your location? Speaker 2 No, they don't know my location. Speaker 1 Okay. You know. Speaker 2 They know I live in Friendswood. Speaker 1 But know they. Speaker 2 Made a huge impact on me. It was awesome. And then I had a ton of teachers in high school that were great. Speaker 1 Well, that's another reason I have a feeling why you became a teacher is when you have really good connections with educators, you kind of want to continue that feeling of life. Like this is a really great place to be. And, you know, now I think it's. Speaker 2 More subconscious. Speaker 1 Tone, you know? Yes. Speaker 2 Yes. And and I also think because my mom was a teacher having that and she had a really positive experience with that, I think that also helped with, oh, my mom was a teacher. She was great at her job. She whatever. I'm going to do that. Speaker 1 Your mom is such a great like just person to be around a calming person. I, i. Speaker 2 I bet she was a great teacher. The best teacher. Speaker 1 Yeah. Oh, I could see it. And then going on to be a great counselor. Speaker 2 Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. Speaker 1 Love your mom. Okay, so let's talk about Keenan. I mentioned I was an assistant principal. Was there ever anything hard about that? Like, we never really. Not a whole lot bothers you. Caden would give me probably a little bit of a different answer because things bothered Caden a lot more than they bothered you, right? Maybe. I just think they didn't bother you because you didn't really talk about it. Speaker 1 But was that hard with a mom as an assistant? Speaker 3 It was only hard because I knew that anything I did, you would know about. Like you couldn't get away with a whole lot. But no, it was I mean, I had kind of this introduction to be friends with, not friends, but student, but friends with like attendance office with other assistant principals. Like after school is over, I go to the school to be with my mom until she gets off of work. Speaker 1 Yeah. Speaker 3 So school was kind of like fun almost. Yeah, kind of had fun. So I think it was more good than bad, but yeah, I mean, of course you're going to hear. Speaker 1 The kids gave you a hard time. Of course. Yeah. Speaker 3 You got to tell your mom to not give me five days of D Hall or whatever. It was like. Speaker 1 I have no control. Speaker 3 You're the one who skipped class. Like, you know, I'm not going to do that. I got my own battles of fight with her. I don't want to fight yours. Speaker 1 Yeah, that's funny that they would actually think that that may work. You know, like, Dude, your mom just gave me this. Speaker 3 Give me a good word. Yeah. Speaker 1 It's not going to work at the dinner table. You're like, Hey, Mom, You know Steve? Yeah. You're really good. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I'd be like, Yeah, yeah. Steve, Steve, I'm sure you're a great kid, but if I gave you deals, I'm sure it was for a reason. So let's talk about what insights, if any, would you offer to parents today, just about life as a teacher or the challenges in and out of the classroom? Speaker 1 And before we move on? CONAN, I did want to ask you, what's it like being the spouse of a teacher? Speaker 3 That's I would say my insight would be something that I would think teachers would like to know, never get to hear from what I see, which is everything outside of the house. You know, she's it's her. As soon as she gets home, she's not done with work. She's got to make sure tomorrow is ready. She's got to make sure that emails are applied to if a parent wants to talk after school, that's going to be a conversation she has for 20 to 30 minutes after her day. Speaker 3 She's just exhausted. She's always exhausted, giving everything she has. You know, there are Saturdays where she is like, I don't want to have to plan on Sunday, so I'll just plan today. And I'm like, we're in the middle of Saturday and you're planning anyways, She she works really hard. She cares so much for every kid. Speaker 1 She has a heart for kids. That's for that's very clear. Speaker 3 But I would say if you know you're worried about your teacher or worried about your kid's teacher, that they are working harder than you could imagine and getting very little recognition for that work, which is hard to see sometimes because a lot of kind of private jobs, you know, you get to work hard and you see that result from that extra work. Speaker 3 She, you know, sees her kids do better or she maybe sees that one kid that is listening all day. She's now listening because she did something different or she had the conversation that she needed to have. But yeah, I think she she's not she's working hard for really no reason. Just because she works hard. Speaker 2 Reason. Speaker 1 Well, it's her love. I mean, it's what she first of all, it's what she chose to do as a profession. Speaker 3 But from my perspective, I don't understand. I don't have the relationships with those little kids. So I don't understand why you would take the care at 730 at night. Wait, I didn't do this one thing. I need to go back and do this presentation. She has a presentation pulled up in 20 minutes of whatever she's doing the next day. Speaker 3 So it's just like, amazing to see. Yes, she you super hard. I feel like she doesn't get the recognition she deserves, but maybe that's everybody feels that way. So I'm a little biased for her. Speaker 1 But you could hold your awards ceremony for your wife every year. Speaker 3 Every year? Yeah, definitely. Probably do. Yeah. They they said. What do they say? That there's a special place in heaven for teachers and people serving kids. So, yeah, that's something said about that. Now. Speaker 2 That was very nice. Speaker 1 That was nice. Was that nice to hear your husband? Speaker 2 That was very nice. Speaker 1 That was sweet. Speaker 2 As far as like what I would tell parents for advice or I'm not a parent, so start there. So I don't really know what it's like to be a parent. I do know what it's like to see my parent 20 kids for 8 hours a day for a lot of weeks during the year, which a lot of parents don't know that I will say that my main thing always is that your teacher, your child's teacher cares a lot. Speaker 1 Yeah. Speaker 2 About your kid. Yeah, a lot more. And they're not working, trying to work against you, right? They're trying to work with you. Speaker 1 Which I think I think 99% of parents know that and believe that they're that their teacher is for their kids. Yes, I really do. Speaker 2 I just that's always my like thing that I start out with is like if anything ever comes out of my mouth that seems negative about your child, it's because I love them so much that I want them to do better and be better. And the only way we can do that is we talk about this so that we can fix it is. Speaker 1 Really an opportunity for growth more than fixing something or someone is. Speaker 2 Growing. Speaker 1 Exactly. Which is why that's what. Speaker 2 I'm here for. Speaker 1 Yeah, that's why. And listen, it's not easy to hear know if Doug comes over and does something wrong. Oh, my gosh. And I'm like, you've got to get your dog under control. Yeah, I know. And I have animals and I have children. I know it's not it's not easy to hear, but you're exactly right. You know, that's your heart is you love your kids and you do want them to do better. Speaker 1 As a parent, it's not always easy to hear and and it's easy to gosh, how can I say this? You naturally blame yourself as a parent. So if you're hearing something negative about your child, right. You take that on and it's a part of you. So you take on that to be a part of yourself as well. So like doing something wrong. Speaker 1 And that's not necessarily always the case. Speaker 2 Exactly. Yeah. Speaker 1 Right. Yeah. No, that's good. That's good. That was sweet. So social media, one of the things that I have heard recently about social media when it comes to teaching is teachers. I've heard more and more teachers Talk to me a little bit about teaching as a profession where you can be called out by by clients. MM hmm. Much more than other professions. Speaker 1 So parents can badmouth a teacher. I don't think we see a lot of that in our school district. I think most of our parents are pro fsd. Mm hmm. I think a lot of parents may ask questions. Listen, there are always going to be parents who say really dumb, in my opinion, dumb things on social media that they shouldn't put on social media. Speaker 1 That's kind of life. That's probably every profession. But I have heard that more and more from teachers of it makes them really nervous. If parents start instead of calling the teacher. Right, just putting it out on social media, this is a concern or a question or, you know, I think I would die if a parent did that and I was the teacher. Speaker 1 I'd be like, what do you what do you can we have a conversation or can we talk? You know, what do you think about that? Is that something you worry about or you just go about your day and don't worry about that? Speaker 2 Or Well, if anybody knows me, they know that I'm a worrier. Speaker 1 But do you spend a lot of time worrying about that? Speaker 2 I spend a lot of time worrying about it, No. Yeah, but when it happens. Yeah, that does stress me out. Speaker 1 Oh, yeah. And it's very upsetting. Speaker 2 Right? It is upsetting. And really it's upsetting because I feel like it's a lack of respect. I think that's the case of. Speaker 1 If I. Speaker 2 Had a problem or a question, I would go directly to you or the source. Right? And so it feels like maybe that might be it's disrespectful and potentially could embarrass that person. So what's the motive? And then also kind of what I really try to do is get outside of my head, not that this is really ever happened to me, but if this was to happen to me or something similar, it's put myself in that person's shoes of what they're feeling going back to my dog, like I will do anything for my dog. Speaker 2 I care so much about my dog. He's my world and I. I feel like I'm not getting answers. So I'm going to go to the next thing until I get an answer and I want to fix it. And so instead of feeling like it would be attack on me or like another teacher feeling like it's an attack on you, of like that parent is feeling a certain way and there's a behavior coming from that, just like children and everyone has behavior. Speaker 2 The behavior stems from an emotion and the emotion is fear. Yes. Anger. Yes. And kind of finding like, what is the problem? How can I fix that so that then I can make that person feel better? Speaker 1 Mm hmm. There is a great response that I've heard over the last year is if someone's throwing a temper tantrum or they're throwing a fit or they're responding in a way that is not becoming or professional, their response to that person is just asking them what they're afraid of. Speaker 2 Where are you? Okay. Speaker 1 Well, are you okay? I think has some sarcastic, passive aggressive advice, which I love that question to you. Are you okay? It's really the same question. What are you afraid of right now, or what are you afraid of? How can I help you? Are you okay? It's really safe. Why is your behavior not really appropriate? Right? Is really what it's saying. Speaker 1 I guess I've heard of. Are you okay? You and I have had that conversation, I think. But I think I would say, are you okay in a way that might have a little sarcasm behind it? You know, I don't really care that they're okay. I'm just sooner it's. Speaker 2 Easier to do that face to face and for that person to understand what you're saying than if you are texting or yeah, email or making a phone call. Because I feel like a lot these interactions are behind a wall of protection of the internet or a phone or through. And then when we get face to face, because a lot of the times it's like, Hey, let's make face to face because. Speaker 1 Yes. Speaker 2 I like, yeah, just hash this out, you know? Speaker 1 Yeah, let's talk it through 100%. When in the past, when something has happened on social media and we've called that person to say, Hey, can we talk through this? They're completely different person, right? Even on the phone, but they're completely different person than what they were on social media, what they were saying right behind that screen. So agreed. Speaker 3 Yeah. But also you as the reader, when you read those words, you're you're implying some sort of sass or attitude and then whatever, they have to say the same words. Speaker 1 Fair. You know, it depends on how you read it and apply that. Right. That's true. Speaker 2 Same with the question on social media. It's how you how you interpret it. Right. So I just think everybody needs to, like, maybe not take everything so seriously. I guess that's would be my bit of advice. Not that I'm really good at that. Speaker 1 Yeah, at all. Yeah. Speaker 2 But it definitely helps because when you're assuming the worst about someone. Speaker 1 Then yeah, obviously positive intent goes a long way for sure. Speaker 2 That would be my thing. Speaker 1 Yeah. So I heard a question moving on from that topic. I heard a question yesterday on Tik Tok because I love Tik Tok. A guy said if I hire. So here's an interview question, which I think is fascinating. If I hired you today and in 60 days had to fire you or let you go, is what he said, what do you think would be the reason I know mine? Speaker 1 Oh, geez. See, that's a that's like, tell me your strengths and your weaknesses. You need to be careful with sharing your weaknesses. Right. Like in an interview, you really don't just start spurting off your weaknesses. You say, Well, I get really involved in my work, like I really care about my work and what I do. So I may take a little bit longer on this project when you may have wanted me to, right. Speaker 1 Not take as long, you know. Right. That may have been a terrible example, but what would be your answer? What do you think? Speaker 2 For me, I'm just a really passionate person and I care a lot about my kids. I care a lot about my job. I care a lot about my coworkers. I'm very justice driven and sometimes I take things too far of looking into things or caring too much about things instead of just focusing on my my thing. So maybe being up to outspoken at times. Speaker 1 You know, that's one of the best advice that you've given me or your mom's giving me about you, is that you're justice driven. Mm hmm. Because that helps me understand your personality, because we have such different personalities of you fight for things. To be fair, you're right. And just. Yeah. And so if things aren't that way, you will go to. Speaker 2 Jail or. Speaker 1 To make sure that they're fair and right. Speaker 2 And sometimes that's not good. Speaker 1 Right? Right. And sometimes you learn to let things go. Speaker 2 Exactly right. Speaker 1 No, but that has helped me a lot with with your personality. And I don't think we take the time necessarily to share things like that with people unless we've worked a long time with them, you know, to get vulnerable enough to say, hey, let me explain how I work and who I am. And this is why I came across this way, or this is why I act like this in those right In those times. Speaker 1 Yeah. So you said that. So I'm glad you shared that. Can it? Any thoughts on that? Speaker 3 Yeah, well, I just want to say Maddy's answers was great. My answers probably. Hey, you've been late every day for the past 45 days. You've been 30 minutes late. Just 30 minutes. Not like 2 hours late. Just 30, 20 minutes late. I'm going to let you go, man. Speaker 1 This would be your answer for us and the why in the interview that they have to you in the interview, 30 minutes late. Speaker 3 I would never say that in the interview. Speaker 1 Oh, that's the that's the interview. So they're saying we hired you today. We have to get rid of you in 62. I have to let you go in 60 days. Why? What was the reason we would have to get rid of you? Speaker 3 I'm right now I'm in an interview. Inside of an interview. Okay, hold on. I can. I could think probably. Yeah. Speaker 2 Just to you laid back. Speaker 3 There's a there's a lot of answers. Yeah. Yeah. Well, go ahead. My wife and my mom go and say, listen to what you. Speaker 1 Yeah, I got it. Speaker 3 And I call my wife. She has. Speaker 1 To go. You know, that's a hard question. You don't answer it. But it is one of those questions that you go, I could go really wrong. Yes. You know, yes. On this question. Yes. Well, I do want to say that I'm proud of both of you and I love both of you. And I look forward to other humans that may come into your world in the future other than the dog e that you have for our world, for us. Speaker 1 But is there anything else many leaving out? Is anything coming up that you want anyone to know about or any? Does Westwood have any? Speaker 2 I mean. Speaker 1 You already did your carnivals and yeah. Speaker 2 You got field day on Friday. Speaker 1 Oh you got Phil down from spring break near sweeping. Great. Let's go everybody be safe. Have a good spring break. Speaker 3 Then the community ed stuff coming. Speaker 2 Up. Speaker 1 Are you teaching any community? Speaker 2 Ed, I. I am going to teach another community I class once my schedule. Speaker 1 Is it cooking? No, no, no. Speaker 2 We had a slime camp in the in the winter right after Christmas and it went so well and we're going to do another one. Okay. We it's not on the calendar yet, but we're going to do one of those. Speaker 1 Be looking for that. Speaker 2 Be looking for the same camp and then maybe, maybe in something Easter. Speaker 1 Okay. Yeah. Awesome. Yeah. Okay. Well, I love you all. Thanks for coming on. Before before we go. Yes. Speaker 3 My mom is retiring. Speaker 1 Yes, I am retiring. Speaker 3 So I just want to say I'm proud of you. Speaker 1 Oh, thank you. I'm okay. We can't talk about that much. I'll cry. Speaker 3 Yeah, but you've been awesome for Friendswood for however long. Speaker 1 Thank you. Yes. Speaker 3 You're awesome, Mom. Very proud to have you. I'm out of you. Look like your mom. Or you're just like your mom. I've gotten there all compliments, so it's. Speaker 1 That's sweet. Speaker 3 Very lucky. Speaker 1 Yeah. I've been in Friendswood, I see. For 20 years, so it's crazy and it's crazy, but I mean. Speaker 2 Very different to me. I can't think about it because it's going to be very weird for you to not be just as accessible. And there whenever I will. Speaker 3 Be even more accessible. Speaker 1 No, but like I can just take. Speaker 2 It is something really cool about Dana is that she does come into every single building and take pictures and sits in classrooms and cares and having that having her be my mother in law is really cool because she's gotten to make a connection with all my students in a different way. So that's going to be a really big, hard change for me. Speaker 2 But yeah, well, are sort of you. Speaker 1 Thank you. Speaker 2 And thanks for having us on the. Speaker 1 Podcast. It was great. It was. It was even better than I thought it would be. Okay, y'all have a good day. Speaker 3 I love you, too. Yeah.