For Sandy West, there was one quote that has stuck with her throughout her entire teaching career: “Fairness does not mean everyone gets the same. Fairness means everyone gets what they need.”

As a new Special Education teacher at the Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School, she enters the year with the goal to create an environment where she can help her students “get what they need” to succeed in school, despite their own learning difficulties.

“I really think that that is a great teaching philosophy,” West told The Fanscotian. “And that’s what I try to do for all of my students; give them what they each need to succeed”

West’s inspiration to become a Special Education teacher comes from her own family. With her two boys being diagnosed with dyslexia at a young age, she found her calling to work with other kids with learning differences. 

“The remediation and the hope that they’ve gotten and seeing how much progress they’ve made; all those experiences kind of led me to want to become a teacher,” West said. 

West believes that a student’s learning difference should not prevent them from doing well in school, which is what really motivates her to help her students improve inside the classroom.

On an average school day, West co-teaches in different courses, varying from U.S. History I to English III. She has the opportunity to work with many students of different ages, ranging anywhere from freshmen to juniors.

West has thoroughly enjoyed her time at SPFHS thus far.

“My favorite part about working here so far is the students – getting to know them, working with them and meeting and learning about them,” West said. “They’ve been really great. I love all of them.”