Students at Park High are adjusting to the new way of life, with not only new principals and a school resource officer, but a new study hall room that comes with a fresh face for most. Study hall teacher Penny Willyerd started the study hall position last year towards the end of the 2023-2024 school year while she was also a paraeducator, sharing the classroom with former study hall teacher and new PHS attendance secretary, Adria Rodgers.
Former Park High Principal, Lori Dust, had offered Willyerd the position as study hall teacher, and Willyerd said she was “More than happy to take the position”.
“Mrs.Rodgers and I had talked about it before, and it really happened!” Willyerd had said in an interview. “When Lori had offered me the position, I told her I would love to,” Willyerd said.
Last year’s study hall room was in Room C-1, nestled in the first corner of C-Pod. Room C-1 was reserved for a new hire, but that position was never filled, ultimately leaving the room for Honors Study Hall. Willyerd had mentioned the large size of her classes, especially in the afternoon.
“I hardly have any kids in the morning, but a lot of them in the afternoons, and it is just so hot in here by that point,” Willyerd stated.
Last year 127 students total took a first semester study hall. This year, 131 students are currently taking a first semester study hall. Honors study hall had 53 students enrolled during semester one last year, while this year there are 31 students.
Junior Olivia Behm expressed how she felt about the large capacity of her study hall class, and how it has affected her in that class. “The number of us in that room causes so much to constantly be happening and going on around you,” she said.
To alleviate crowding, study hall students may get passes to go to the library to study as well.
“Having the option to go to the library is really nice. It has definitely improved my ability to get my assignments turned in on time, and it’s also given me access to a laptop since I don’t happen to have one at home. It’s a lot easier to stay focused, and be more productive while I work in the library,” junior Trinity Armstrong said.
The phone policy put in place has also eliminated the privilege of having headphones in the study hall room. Sophomores Sauner Wood, Ella Mendez, and Maria Turck all agree that headphones can be used to help students stay on task and focused on their assignments. Having headphones may allow for a student to avoid any distractions around them, but the teacher may not be able to have trust in the student that their students are on their phones only for music when it’s allowed.
Even with some of the difficulties she is facing this year, Willyerd is excited to be Park High’s study hall teacher.
