From 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Kristen Davis-Owen is surrounded by the laughter of teenagers, calls from admin walkie-talkies, and instruction of teachers from all around the school. Although the day is long and filled with more shenanigans than she can handle, she still powers through.
Most people at Carnegie Vanguard High School know who Davis-Owen, AP World History and AP European History teacher, is. However, many aren’t aware of the journey she has traveled to get to where she is today, one that began with her high school’s handbell choir.
She recalls her time as the president of the Handbell Choir, stating that the teacher who ran it used it as a “sleeper period.”
“She had whoever was the president of the bell choir at the time teach the class. They led rehearsal, they did instruction, etc, etc.,” Davis-Owen said. “I did those things, and I discovered that I really loved being part of that teaching conversation.”
Davis-Owen never considered a path to teaching history, until she realized her passion for historical fiction.
“For a hot minute I thought I would teach English, because I love to read, and I love talking about literature and plays,” she said. “But then I realized two things: One, I’m horrible at grammar. But additionally, other than fantasy, the vast majority of books I read were historical fiction. I love the story of history, and so putting those two things together felt really natural.”
She explains her excitement for the classes she teaches, saying that the only thing that really dampens her mood is having to come up with lesson plans that fit district criteria.
“I love World History,” Davis-Owen said when asked which class she prefers to teach—AP World History or AP European History.
“It’s my first year of teaching [AP] Euro, and it’s fun. I’m having fun making things for it. I love making lessons, and I love putting together ideas and products and creativity.”
However, she explains she likes AP World History more because it involves the entire globe.
“I had a professor in one of my history classes who made this analogy that has stuck with me ever since,” Davis-Owen said. “Some people who study history are like hedgehogs—they pick one topic, and they burrow down incredibly deep and know every single thing about that thing, and that’s how they love history.”
However, she identifies with a different side of this analogy.
“But the other people are like foxes, and they will dig into a topic a little bit and find the thing that they love, and then they are off to find a new topic.”
She states that because she is a “fox historian,” she likes World History more for the ability to jump from topic to topic, adding that her favorite part of history is the Tudor period, focusing mainly on Henry VIII and his six wives.
“It’s so dramatic,” she said. “It’s great.”
In addition to teaching, Davis-Owen sponsors a fair share of CVHS clubs, including Phi Alpha Theta (History Honor Society), K-Pop Club, and Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) Club, for which Davis-Owen has a special affinity.
“There was some [resistance] when I first got it on campus because of [its] perception, like ‘What is this? Is this a wholesome thing for kids to be doing?’ So getting them approved to be a club was a task,” she said.
D&D is the closest to her heart because of this.
“I still play D&D, and I feel very connected to the club and the hobby itself.”
Ms. Davis-Owen considers herself a very open person.
“I’m terrible at [giving fun facts] because I tell people everything,” she explains. “In the grand scheme of things, I’m probably quite boring.”
She explains that she’s a part of a weekly D&D campaign, which has been running for 8 years. She also adds that she has a “terrible stationary, sticker, and pen hoarding problem.”
“Every spring, I do a stationary purge where I bring in all of my extra washi tapes and stickers and tell people to take the excess,” Davis-Owen said.
Other than that, she thinks she doesn’t have many interesting facts about herself.
Despite this, Davis-Owen does have quite a few hobbies and interests she likes to indulge in, namely journaling.
“I don’t get a lot of time for the reflective component of journaling, but I really value and enjoy the time I spend every week setting up my weekly agenda spreads and getting to have that creative moment from thinking about colors and stickers and themes,” she said.
Her personality has played a major role in being a great teacher, but has also allowed her to see the struggles of being at CVHS, a gifted and talented (GT) high school with high expectations for its students.
“I think that the label of being GT is an incredible gift, but it’s also a burden, and so many kids come to Carnegie thinking about what “being GT” means—that nothing should ever be hard for you,” Davis-Owen said. “I don’t say that in a judgmental way, but rather in a way that a lot of people will feel like they’re an imposter if something doesn’t come naturally. One, you’re not, and two, everyone’s gonna hit that mountain or that wall at some point.”
So, what’s the real value of being a student at CVHS, for Davis-Owen?
“I know it sounds cringy,” Davis-Owen says, “but what’s really valuable is learning how to get over the wall or over the mountain, and that the learning is at that moment. There are so many kids who are feeling the exact same way as you, but they don’t say it and they don’t show it.”
