The first 2025 Teacher Spotlight from The Anna Progress showcases Mrs. Neville.
Trigger warning, as a teacher with a background in the forensics part of law enforcement she does mention some stories that may not be suitable to some readers. That is the reason require a click to see.

Just a reminder: the goal of the Teacher Spotlight is not to take away from the achievements recognized by the district, but rather to shine a light on teachers who might otherwise go unrecognized. We believe this initiative helps ease the burden on the district, which has limited resources to acknowledge every teacher. Similarly, we acknowledge that we too can only highlight a limited number of teachers. Not every teacher that we have recognized will want a article and that is their right.

This next segment was something she wrote to tell us about herself, and give the community insight to one of our wonderful teachers! That’s apart of our goals of our teacher spotlight(s), to bridge divides, educate people, and bring the community together one article at a time! I won’t write too much about her, because I don’t want to say too much and ruin anything she might say but some of my favorite things about her that I’ve gathered through her class is her experience in the field of forensics — there are teachers that know how to teach a subject they know nothing about, or they go solely based on state requirements and don’t go any further into depth than what they need to. Mrs. Neville is not like that. In my opinion she is overqualified for a high school forensics class and that comes from her experience, I’m going to leave it at that as to not spoil anything else she might say.

My name is Amy Neville and I am the Science Department Chair at Anna High School and have been teaching all things science for the past 4 years.  I have found my forever teaching home here in Anna.  I love the supportive community and the drama that is the community facebook group never disappoints, and the uncensored pages never fail to make even a wisened, cynical gal like me blush at times.  I love working for the district and their commitment to let me show my students a little “real world”.  I have only been teaching for 7 years.  Prior,  I spent a decade as a crime scene investigator, trainer and latent print examiner.  I worked for multiple metroplex cities during my time and have experience from criminal mischief to homicide, from latent print identification to video surveillance and enhancement.  I married my law enforcement hero (a medal of valor recipient, life saving award winner, and officer of the year nomination) and we have 2 miracle babies.  I’m a two time published author, but my favorite job (other than Coyote Teacher) is mom!

I was asked to share a couple stories with you, but, as with all my forensic classes, there must be a trigger warning.  Law Enforcement in general is a rewarding, something-new-everyday job, but it comes with a lot of trauma, a lot of gruesome, and a whole lot of nudity.  (Seriously, 90% of my natural death investigations involved naked people…so if you get sick, and you’re hot, keep your clothes on…..guaranteed survival).

Story 1 (click to view)

My first death investigation out of training was an older gentleman who lived alone,  a veteran, and had committed suicide.  He had no close family, but no note meant I had little other insight as to why.  You eventually get used to not knowing why.  He was sitting upright in his armchair and I had been dreading this moment for 4 months.  The moment I got up close and personal to take photos.  All the detectives knew this and thought it would be hilarious to tap the rocker as I was inches away from a gunshot wound to the chest.  I may have screamed, I might have even peed a little….a fact that got my novel rejected by a Christian publisher for being too “colorful”. (But that’s another story).

Story 2 (click to view)

I was also asked to share something suspenseful.  The problem is, most of the time, by the time crime scene investigators arrive, the suspense is over.  Victims/Suspects/Family are removed.  Fire department has trampled any and all evidence, and warrants have been signed. So I will have to settle for the one time an officer called me to the scene of an active burglary prematurely.  I didn’t know it was active.   I just got a page.  Respond to said sports complex for burglary of a business.  I load my gear and head that way.  This was before the time of super awesome smart phones and I was working off the basic gps and maps of a blackberry….I ended up on the wrong side of the sports facility, but was too proud to drive all the way around so I decided to traipse through a back alley in the dark, armed with a maglite and a clipboard.  The alley was pretty dark, with tennis courts on either side and lined with large bushes.  I could hear officers and some radio chatter as I headed to the correct side.  All of a sudden I heard some pretty aggressive growling and barking followed by “Get your a** on the ground!” Just as I am about to shriek “ITS CSI10!” , a man….a BURGLAR….emerges from the bushes and we have an epic staredown.  I’m not sure what he was thinking, but I was trying to calculate how long I had to hit him over the head with my maglite before K9 bit me (they don’t know me from burglar…..).  Luckily, he sighed, turned towards the officers coming from the opposite direction and I was able to step back and aside.  I then got scolded for being in their perimeter, while I reminded them, “You called me…..”

As for sad stories, I have many.  Many ghosts in my head and people I have prayed for and lost sleep over.  Too many sad stories to recount and there is enough sadness in the world without me adding to it.  But I would like anyone reading this to know: Not once, in 10 years, no matter how they passed: naturally, by another person, by their own hand, alone……no matter….there was ALWAYS someone to grieve them and their loss, even if it was just me.  So no matter how dark it gets and even if you can’t see the way, there is ALWAYS a reason to continue and there is ALWAYS someone who cares and whom you have touched by being here.  John 1:5

We thank Mrs. Neville for sharing with us, to share to you! She is a wonderful part of our community and very deserving of the first spotlight!

Written by Brayden R. Heath with stories from Amy Neville