Teaching dual enrollment is a sister act for Susan and Jill Saylor

Dual-enrollment teachers – and sisters – Dr. Susan Saylor and Jill Saylor, combined, have nearly 50 years of teaching experience at Sherando High School.

Susan, who was once an assistant athletic director and coached several sports, has been with the school 27 years. Her sister has been with Sherando nearly the entirety of her 22-year teaching career. A third sister, Hollie Strosnider, who teaches math, also is with the high school, but doesn’t teach dual-enrollment classes.

Jill teaches biology and anatomy and physiology, while Susan teaches chemistry. They have also previously worked as adjunct instructors at the college. Learning was a family value in the Saylor home.

“Education was always important to our parents,” said Susan. “I remember my mom sitting down and doing schoolwork with us.”

Jill said, “We grew up with a really small high school and we made some really good connections with our teachers.”

There are numerous benefits to students earning college credits in a dual-enrolled class at the high school, not least of which is the extra lecture and lab time spent on the subject because of the nature of high school scheduling, according to the sisters.

“They get more seat time and hands-on experience, they get more everything,” Jill said. “I think they get a deeper experience.”

Susan added, “I think the constant exposure to their teachers is important. It’s face-to-face, it’s not online. If they have a question, they can come before class, after class. There are just more opportunities.”

“We have a lot of kids who graduate with their two-year associate degree before they even graduate from high school,” said Susan, who was named teacher of the year at Sherando this year.

“The cost alone is a big draw,” added Jill.

That’s because the classes are offered at high schools for a much lower rate than they are to students who are no longer in high school.

Both sisters said teaching dual-enrollment classes is enjoyable because of the students the classes draw.

“They’re still kids, but it’s the top-tier kids,” said Susan. “They’re motivated.”

“They’re more focused,” Jill agreed. “They get excited about learning. If you give them a project, some will take it to the highest level. It’s like that light bulb moment. It makes you feel like you’re doing something good.”