Faculty Unscripted: Becca LaVoie
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Becca LaVoie teaches English and coaches cross-country running.
What are your primary roles at MSA?
I teach eleventh and twelfth grade English and I am the assistant cross country coach.
What made you decide to live and work on the Hill?
Miller School has a unique feel to it where every student can be themselves and work to achieve their individual goals. I’ve never been around another school that does this, and I cannot imagine a better school to teach at or send my own children to.
Most memorable teaching, coaching, or student-life experience?
This fall at our district meet, we had almost every runner on the team run their personal best time for the year. I was so proud to see the hard work and dedication they had shown throughout the season pay off in a big way in that race. I enjoyed cheering for every single finish, and I cannot even begin to describe the pride I felt in our team!
If you were not an educator, what would you be?
Stay-at-home dog mom, for sure! But truthfully, I have always found finance interesting, so I think I would do something finance related.
Favorite aspect of living on campus?
I have lived most of my adult life on boarding school campuses, and I would not have it any other way. I have raised my children in this environment, and we have so much fun as a family on campus. We can easily grab brunch together on a weekend, watch a basketball or baseball game after school, or hang out together at the lake. Miller school is a beautiful place to live.
Most memorable lesson learned from students at MSA?
Don’t give up! As a senior English teacher, I get to work with students on preparing their senior speeches. These speeches are about their personal experiences that have helped shape them into who they are today. I have been blown away by the stories of gratefulness, persistence, and resilience. Our students are strong and willing to work hard to achieve their dreams!
Favorite place to go or thing to do on MSA’s 1,600-acre campus?
I love hiking on Jay’s Way down to the lake and using the stand up paddle boards and kayaks. My whole family (including our dog) loves the water!
Movie you have watched the most times in your life?
Clue! I think the movie is so funny, and it is my favorite board game too!
Dream trip?
I would love to visit Italy and experience the art, architecture, and food. I had an exchange student last semester from Rome, and I enjoyed talking to him about all of the places I wanted to see, and him showing me personal pictures he had taken visiting those places - or even the view of them from his previous school!
Pets?
We have a Brittany Spaniel named Moose. We got him in 2017, and we honestly, cannot remember life without him. He is a super sweet dog and makes friends everywhere he goes.
What did you want to do when you grew up (when you were in high school)?
I honestly had no idea what I wanted to be, but I just knew that I wanted to run cross country in college and then travel and live in different places in the country. And I have accomplished that by living, going to school, and working in Tennessee, Kentucky, Washington, Hawaii, North Carolina, Arizona, and Virginia.
