Intimidating, scary, and intense: these are the words used most often when describing Amanda Jones, who teaches Pre-AP English to freshmen at Fossil. Word has traveled through the mass of students that have had Jones in the past to warn future students of the advanced level of her class, but is it really all that scary?

Rumor has it that Jones begins the year by telling her students that she is “heartless.” In reality, Jones claims that all she says is: “I have no soul so crying about excuses for why you don’t have something prepared or why I should round your grade up simply won’t work on me.” Jones’s purpose for doing so right off of the bat is to make students aware of her high expectations and to let them know that her class is challenging, but with good reason.

“Having someone that relentlessly holds you accountable to be your best self is scary. I think more often than not, students are scared to let me down or not perform at the best I know they’re capable of,” states Jones. She makes it known that she is passionate about her job and only has the students’ best interests in mind.

Because of the short time she has with them, she wants to help them grow and develop as best they can to be successful in the future. Jones believes that when she is in front of people, she wants to get things done quickly and efficiently. “I think this comes across as cold-hearted. I don’t think people see that I do what I do because I want to love and support people the best that I can,” she says.

However, students might be shocked to learn that there’s more to Jones than just her intimidating demeanor. She lives with her husband Daniel and daughter Harper on a hobby farm. Her family takes care of chickens and pigs, as well as maintaining a large garden on their farm.

Jones also says that students might be surprised that she is “much more of a softy than people realize.” Her intense teaching style is almost mostly for show to force students to work hard in her class, but that doesn’t mean that she fits that description all the time.

Although her life does revolve around school and teaching, she does have a life outside of it. Jones enjoys mentoring students, spending time outside, working with her hands, and spending time with her family on their spunky farm.

For students entering her class in the future, Jones advises them to “learn how to struggle so that we can ultimately grow and become better people.” It is obvious that her class is not easy, but the challenge will most definitely help students out in the long run. She is just doing her best to develop students into young adults so they will be better prepared for the future.

So students, there’s really nothing to be afraid of when it comes to having Mrs. Jones as a teacher, but unfortunately, she won’t be seen in the school hallways for the remainder of the year after spring break, because she’s expecting the arrival of the newest addition to her family soon!