Many teachers do an outstanding job filling their students’ heads with meaningful information that will help them throughout their lives.

Karyl Goldsmith is one of those teachers. She teaches Advanced Placement English literature and composition and senior literature at Sedona Red Rock High School. Goldsmith also serves as faculty advisor to the National Honor Society at the school and the literary magazine, Petroglyphs; serves on the National Central Accreditation steering committee; and is a member of the leadership team and the Literacy Council.

“I love my job. I’ve been teaching 29 years, 18 years at Sedona Red Rock High School,” Goldsmith said during a break from class Feb. 3. I like how new the subject matter like ‘Hamlet’ and those universal themes is to each new class of kids.”

Goldsmith taught French for a few years. When she came to Sedona she started teaching English and related subjects. After Sedona split from Mingus Union High School in Cottonwood, Goldsmith switched to English literature and composition.

Goldsmith tries to make the subject matter relevant.

“It’s important to me that through literature, we can relate to and talk about troubles in their own lives, particularly if it’s uncomfortable for them otherwise,” Goldsmith said.

In Goldsmith’s classroom, the desks are arranged to face each other. Pictures and quotes from literature hang on the walls, windows and from the ceiling. In the middle of the desks are fake swords and crowns to act out scenes.

“I’m visual, so even when my students look up they visually see a character, what a castle looks like or a quote from what they’re reading,” Goldsmith said.

Books are a gateway to adventure and knowledge. Goldsmith likes to help students embrace reading on a deeper level than just the words and the story.

“In class, we have Socratic discussions, and they can see each other as they speak,” she said.

Goldsmith made the discovery of what books really had to offer at the age of 17 when she received “Ordinary People,” as a gift. The book sparked her interest, and Goldsmith became an avid reader. She still is.

“Over Christmas break I read about 25 books,” she said.

As for a favorite style of literature, Goldsmith said it was hard to choose, but she enjoys historical fiction.

“I like learning about history but not necessarily studying it. Living it through a book is fun,” she said.

She counts some of the classics like “The Chronicles of Narnia” series, “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy, “Harry Potter,” and “Twilight” among her collection.

“The kids are reading these books, so I think I better,” Goldsmith said. “Anything that gets them reading is good, within reason.”

Goldsmith totally enjoys the feel of a book, the draw of the cover and turning the pages.

“I engage with my book at all levels, so personally I don’t want an electronic book, although I see their value,” she said.

When the high school first opened, there was no advisor for the National Honor Society, so Goldsmith agreed to do the job.

“Teaching kids to strive for their best and to give back to their community is very important,” she said.

The group has helped women of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and at various Sedona events. One of the members’ activities is tutoring. They tutor their peers at the high school and help kindergarten students at West Sedona School every Wednesday morning.

“They could sleep in. We have late start on Wednesdays,” said Goldsmith.

She also works with her peers as a new teacher mentor.

“I enjoy curriculum development and working with other teachers. I think the kids and the teacher benefit. I guess it’s my form of giving back,” she said. “I never want to be principal, though. My heart is in the classroom. Anything I can do to shape our students’ existence is what I want to do.”

Goldsmith plans to teach as long as she can.

“I told the kids as long as I can be effective I’ll keep teaching because I love it,” she said.

Principal Darrin Karuzas describes Goldsmith as an effective and powerful asset to the culture and climate of Sedona Red Rock High School.

“The leadership team is working to increase the use of our excelling students in the classrooms working with their peers. That’s exactly what Goldsmith promotes with her students, and she’s doing a great job,” Karuzas said. “She wears a lot of hats here, and she wears them well.”