Q&A with Ms. Sommers of Dual Enrollment

By Isabella F.

On Tuesday, September 23, 2025, Mrs. Sommers sat down with me at the Innovation Center for an in-depth interview. The purpose of the interview was to give students insight on what and how Mrs. Sommers contributes to both the school and Early College program with some personal questions sprinkled throughout.

Isabella: My first question is, what inspired you to become a teacher?

Mrs. Sommers: I'm not a teacher as I don't have that degree. However, I've always felt that I was most comfortable working with teenagers. I didn't know that until a bit later, but I've always had fun with teenagers and I'd rather hang out with them than the adults. But as far as making that my profession, I'm in the classroom with them, and then that just evolved into working at Airport and now over here [the Innovation Center].

Isabella: You're most known for the Early College program and helping run it. So, how did you first get involved?

Mrs. Sommers: I got involved in 2017 at Airport High School because that's where it was born. Ms. Bledsoe was running it at the time, and it started growing really quick. Due to the fact I was doing study hall/ISS–this led to whatever they needed me to do, and I would be over at Airport at that time. She then asked if I could be her assistant. You know, and I'm like, yeah, I'd love to do that. So, that's how I got in. And I've been here ever since.

Isabella: What's one of the most rewarding parts of being able to be around all these students?

Mrs. Sommers: Watching them blossom. Watching it and seeing that originally, a lot of kids thought they couldn't do it [the college classes] because their parents made them sign up. Watching how afraid they were. And then watching them realize, I can do this. I can do this. And watching them mature through the years. That's, to me, you know, the kids that never even thought they would be able to go to college. They were going to go right into the workforce, which there's nothing wrong with…but they got their free education while they were still here. It inspired them to go on to college after here, after they graduated.

Isabella: How would you describe the early college program to someone who doesn't know what it is?

Mrs. Sommers: I would describe it as one of the best opportunities that public high schools have to offer. They can complete their two-year college degree free, all free. If they do decide to go to a four-year college once they graduate, they go in as juniors, which is thousands and thousands of dollars that you've saved. It's a program that you grow in.

Isabella: What challenges do you think students face in terms of balancing high school classes and college classes at once?

Mrs. Sommers: Well, it's a balance between not only high school and college classes. I see a balance as, from where I stand, or sit, and watching all of you guys, it's a balance between college, high school, sports, jobs, home situations. Like, it's the whole deal. So the challenges that I see are huge. Honestly, I don't know how some kids do it. But not only that, combined with all that, trying to be at the top of their game in all of those, get their GPA up on top with everybody else…to me that's crazy. So for me, the biggest challenge is are you guys trying to balance all that stuff? If it was that easy, if all these kids just had to worry about their high school classes and their college classes, I wouldn't see an issue. 

Isabella: If you had to compare an early college class and a traditional high school class, what do you think stands out the most between those differences?

Mrs. Sommers: I would like to say rigor, but that's not always true. I can't tell you how many kids tell me that the college classes are way easier than their high school classes, especially when we're talking about AP. AP or college? College. You know what I mean? Have you taken AP classes? Only talking about the AP with that test you have to take, in a college class–there's no test that you have to take and make a certain number at the end to tell you if you put in all that work for nothing. You know what I mean? To get that three or above. The biggest difference between them, but that's the way college is. It's more laid back than high school. It is in general. 

I think the difference between that being said, is you don't have that teacher telling you every single day that you're in that class in high school. You know, it's more structured. The high school classes are more structured. These classes you take two days a week and they’re self-motivated. That'd be the difference. 

Isabella: Do you have any advice to a freshman coming into high school and they apply for the early college program but they're nervous about what it's all about?

Mrs. Sommers: Lots of advice. A quick piece of advice to them would be to trust yourself. You made it into the program and you're smart enough to be in this program.

Isabella: What's a piece of advice that you give to your younger self?

Mrs. Sommers: My younger self? Oh, my gosh. That is so hard. I do not have any as I do not have any regrets.

Isabella: Who has been a role model or a mentor for you during your teaching career at Airport or here?

Mrs. Sommers: Ms. Bledsoe [a former teacher at AHS]. She's, you know, working with her at the time, I look back and think, oh my God. She's the kindest, most caring, genuine person that I've ever met.

Isabella: What do you enjoy doing in your free time?

Mrs. Sommers: I love spending time with my family, doing things with them, traveling with, you know, wherever my daughter is. She's always in a fun place, so in the summer, I try to get out there.

Isabella: What's something outside of school that you're passionate about

Mrs. Sommers: I was a crew adventure leader for many, many, many, many years with high school kids outside of here. We went on a handful of adventures, and again, working with teenagers, I realized that a lot of these kids have never even camped. That was a lot of fun too. I was very passionate about that. I don't do that anymore.

Isabella: How do you see education changing in the next five to ten years? 

Mrs. Sommers: I'm answering my question for the college. I see a lot, I think a lot more of it's going to go to online learning. I think during COVID, you know, when that was really all happening, and we all had to go to online learning, I think that just opened up everybody's eyes to…oh, yeah, we can do this. We can do this from home. Other than that, I don't know. It's going to be tough on teachers. I think the teachers are already asked too much. I mean, I don't know. I'm sort of in a spot where I don't really know what goes on in the classrooms. I know only from when I hear from kids, and it's not much. They have more online courses than they've ever offered before. As far as physical textbooks, that's going out. 

Isabella: What is the most important lesson you hope your students leave your class with when they graduate?

Mrs. Sommers: It would be to be yourself always, no matter what. Be honest. Be open. Don't try to be anything else, especially when you're in college. And when I do see them in the future, I see that they become who they are in college. You know, who they were supposed to be. Who they were meant to be.

Isabella: That concludes our interview.

It is exhilarating to think about where the Early College program will be in the next few years as Mrs. Sommers’ continues to take students under her wing. With the rate it is growing at, many students will be provided a free college education–graduating with an associate’s degree while earning their high school diploma. Whether students are different ages, races, ethnicities, come from different backgrounds, it is clear how much she cares about these students and will do whatever it takes to help them succeed. Mrs. Sommers’ caring and guiding character will shape the Early College program into a place students will enter and exit with further knowledge, their future right on track, and knowing that she will always be there for them no matter what.