Name: Amy Perkins
City: Saint Joseph
Workplace: Lakeshore High School
Title: Social Studies Teacher
How do you think that Bold Women of Business demonstrate being bold?
“Bold Women” don’t fit a particular mold, and they don’t comply with an established set of expectations. Quite the opposite. They are visionary, creative, and optimistic. Where others see problems and obstacles, “Bold Women” see opportunities. And their boldness does not come at the expense of others. Rather, it is frequently leveraged to amplify the voices of those who are often ignored.
Bold women are often defined by a number of descriptors. Please choose from the following descriptors to produce the top three that you would say most exemplify your personality?
Courageous
Strong
Please provide an example of when you feel you were at your very best in taking action on the job or in your role.
The ability to be at my “very best” is often enabled by the network of people around me. In 2018 two of my colleagues and I created Lakeshore’s first reciprocal exchange program with a school in Germany. Six years later I am still coordinating this international exchange between Lakeshore students and their German partners. A growing network of host families, generous donors, and professional colleagues have enabled me to do this. With their help, I not only teach my students about the world WITHIN my classroom, but–through the Sister School Exchange Program– I can push beyond the classroom walls and take my students overseas to learn. The world has become their classroom, and I remain indebted to all of the local partners who have helped me bring kids closer to achieving THEIR best, both in the classroom and beyond.
What’s the funniest thing that ever happened on your road to success?
Humor often comes in the form of random things students say and do, both in my classroom and after they graduate. Many former students have shared with me their account of how a simulation or debate in class still makes them laugh or “triggers PTSD.” Evidently, the reenactment of factory working conditions, the Salem Witch Trials, and the American Revolution Tug of War, among others, left an impression on these former students and, despite being in their 30’s today, they still pull me aside and humor me with their lasting impressions of my teaching style.
Who most inspires your personal drive for success every day?
My former and current students are my biggest source of inspiration. Their curiosity, resilience, compassion, and engagement challenge me to bring my A-Game, and they aren’t shy about telling me when I’m not giving them my best. But they also know that I hold them to the same standard. We function as a team in this regard, pushing each other to excel.
What is your best advice to women in Southwest Michigan looking to succeed, as you have, in business?
Assemble a small team of people who will support you through thick and thin, guide you through seemingly impossible situations, and hold you accountable when you overstep. They are your sounding board, a sounding board that will, when necessary, drown out the negative self-talk and, alternatively, humble you when your ego needs to be checked.
What does your selection to the ranks of the Bold Women of Business from Moody on the Market mean to you?
The recognition is validating and appreciated. I can’t be an effective educator if I don’t have the support of the community. That being said, though, the extent to which I’m a “bold woman” is better assessed by the extent to which I’ve inspired and empowered my female students to be similarly bold in their professional and personal aspirations.