"When you see
a teacher today, or any day for that matter, thank them for everything they do."
~Christy Carpenter, Mosley High School, Panama City, FL
Do you have a current or recall a
former teacher that you will never forget? Is that remembrance comforting,
filled with encouragement, or possibly totally humorous? Perhaps, even one that
reflects a teacher who may not necessarily be classified a favorite but as you
look back, realize what a great impact that person has, or had, on your life?
Could there be more than just a single teacher who in one way or another left
an everlasting impression? Have you taken the time to let them know how much
they are truly appreciated?
As you ponder such questions, it
must be taken into account that learning experiences transpire over a decade
plus, across many disciplines, and under the helm of numerous educators and
administrators. Like the molding of clay into a find piece of pottery, many
persons in the education field has, or has had, his/her 'hand' in shaping who
you are today. From kindergarten to elementary to middle to high school on to
the workplace or college or university (which by the way could be more than one
for the purpose of obtaining more than one degree), each had a unique part and
the list could go on and on. . .
Being an educator has allowed me to
reflect two-fold: On those who impacted my life and those whose lives I have
impacted. And, of course, if you read my profile, you have learned my dad
was also an educator and in addition, the school principal for my first seven
years of school. However, my purpose for this posting is not about my
experiences but something so graciously forwarded to me today that could not be
set aside without sharing - sharing for all who read it to stop in
reflection of our teachers with appreciation and gratitude.
"I am indebted to my father for
living, but to my teachers for living well."
~Alexander the Great
The Awakening for Today:
Christy Carpenter, Mosley High School, Panama City, FL
Take time to read Christy's Letter
sent out to all the Mosely teachers. Then, pay it forward to as many as
possible in appreciation for ALL that teachers do! As her mom put it,
"After all the recent news reports of teachers who belittle students,
mistreat them, and actally commit crimes with them, this seems like a breath of
fresh air!"
In honor of Teacher
Appreciation Week, I thought I would attempt to capture my gratitude for
our teachers in words and share my thoughts with those willing to take the time
to read this and think about everything teachers do for our community.
I am who I am
because of teachers. That’s not just a gross exaggeration or a trite
phrase for me. My first teacher was my mother, who retired a few years ago from
Bay District after 30 years teaching middle school students. My mother taught
me to read and write, along with a myriad of other skills, while also caring
for and teaching English to the other 150 or so children in her 6thgrade
classes at A.D. Harris. Over the years, I saw how she balanced family and still
took care of her students at school. I always admired her ability to love and
care for so many children at one time. Maybe that’s why it was natural for me
to enter the education profession myself. I can remember playing school and pretending
to have my own classroom when I accompanied her to school on planning days. My
friends, who were other teachers’ kids, would reluctantly indulge my desire
that they serve as my attentive “students”if I promised to play outside after
“class” was over.
Many years later, I had my own real class and real students, where I learned about giving heart and soul so
that I could reap the rewards that come along with a teacher’s dedication. I’ve
also had the opportunity to help change the lives of some of my students who
struggled with academics and personal issues. It was a long way from demanding
that my pretend students beat erasers and use proper grammar in “class” when I
was ten, -- this time, the challenges and rewards were real, and I loved every
minute of my time in the classroom.
I have fond
memories of fingerpainting and dressing like a Pilgrim at
Thanksgiving in my kindergarten class with Mrs. Jones. I never once remember
feeling afraid or insecure in her class. Her rousing rendition of “Brown Bear,
Brown Bear” is a treasure I’ve held dear to my heart for the vast majority of
my life. I hope I passed on the love of this story to my own children. I
recently went to dinner a few months ago at Golden Corral, and as I hastily
entered the lobby area (late as usual), I heard a voice that was an instant
balm on my frazzled nerves. There stood Mrs. Jones! The lilt in her voice took
me back to a day when I felt safe and secure in her Kindergarten classroom. I
don’t know that I could have expressed the magnitude of my love and
appreciation for her as a six year old. Did I tell her that I would miss her on
my last day of Kindergarten? Did she understand how much I would appreciate her
many years down the road? Thirty-five years later, I hope that she understands
the impact she had on my life. I hope she knows how much I value the lessons I
learned in Kindergarten that supplied a solid foundation for my success.
Mostly, I hope she knows how much I appreciate feeling safe and encouraged to
explore, think, and inquire under her tutelage.
Teachers work hard.
I’ve witnessed and been the beneficiary of the product of teachers’ hard work,
as a student, a fellow teacher, a parent and an administrator. Are there bad
apples (pardon the pun!) in the bunch? Of course there are, as there are in any
aspect of society and in any profession. I assure you, however, that good
teachers want only good teachers in classrooms, just as parents, students and
community members do. The vast majority of teachers are hard-working, and
willing to sacrifice family time, money and effort to support our students and
families, both in academics and in society. My son’s kindergarten teacher
eagerly took him in when he transferred to a new school this past January. She
made him feel at home, loved and safe, just like I did when I was in
Kindergarten. She encourages his interests and invites him to explore, enriches
his strengths and provides support to improve his weaknesses. He told me
yesterday that he loves her. Love isn’t a word that is bandied about in our
household—you have to earn it. I asked him why he loves her, and he told me
“because she loves all of us in her class.” From a parent’s point of view, you
can’t ask for a better teacher. If Kelly Lewis has earned my son’s love, she’s
a star in my book. Another example is the math teacher who donates his personal
time in the afternoons to tutor my daughter through Algebra II—not for money
but because he knows how difficult math is for her and wants to see her
succeed. He’s not even her teacher of record, but felt compelled to help when
he saw her struggling. I witness his empathy and concern for all students, not
just my own daughter, on a daily basis as an administrator at his school.
Ironically enough, this is the same math teacher that supported me through
Geometry and Business math when I was in high school twenty-five years ago.
Paul Durden’s level of compassion and dedication hasn’t changed since I was in
school, even though society’s view of teachers has.
Teachers often take
a beating from the public these days. Recent news about
teachers making bad choices can make us forget about the vast majority of the
wonderful teachers in our system. Sometimes we forget that teaching is
different than most other professions in that teachers hold a crucial
responsibility. Teachers not only take responsibility for their students’
academic well-being, but for their self-esteem, emotional and physical security
as well. Imagine the weight of knowing that you hold this responsibility for 18,
22, or even 120 students. Even though this thought would be daunting to many
people, teachers readily and eagerly accept this challenge.
I thank my teachers
who have supported me and made me who I am. My teachers and the lessons they
taught me are the framework of my life; from Mrs. Hawks and Mrs. Pipkin who
encouraged me and my fellow students to think beyond the expected, to Mrs.
Leake who let me sing in the choir even though I can’t carry a note in a
bucket, to Coach Jennings who somehow got me through Algebra, to Mrs. Deluzain
who gave me the freedom to explore topics that moved me, and encouraged me
to“write what you know.” (By the way, Mrs. D, my novel is coming soon!) There
are hundreds of others that I could thank if I had the space and time. I would
be willing to bet that each of you reading this can remember a positive
experience with a teacher, whether it’s something a teacher said that
encouraged you, or a teacher who made you feel loved and welcome in her
classroom. I am honored to supervise some of the most caring, loving and
committed teachers in the country. Every day that I go to work, I witness a
teacher giving of himself or herself. I’ve witnessed teachers paying for
students to attend their senior trip when the students otherwise wouldn’t have
been able to afford it, contribute to scholarship funds, buy shoes for needy
students, talk students through personal problems and conflicts, stop a bully
from ruining another student’s day, encourage a student to stay in school when
they don’t see any other option than dropping out, and provide lunches, school
supplies, and most importantly LOVE to students on a daily basis. Being a
teacher means you’re a social worker, doctor, psychiatrist, coach, a host of
other roles to multiple students. I thank God that there are loving and
trustworthy people who are willing to take the burden, responsibility and
glorious opportunity to teach. “THANK YOU” doesn’t convey the magnitude of my
gratitude for everything teachers do, but it’s a start. When you see a teacher
today, or any day for that matter, thank them for everything they do.
Teachers
play a key role in every individual’s development and evolution. Showing
appreciation to them is therefore the least one can do as an act of gratitude.
Remember to express your appreciation this week, next week and every week to
come!
"The task of the excellent
teacher is to stimulate "apparently ordinary" people into unusual
effort. The tough problem is not in identifying winners: it is in making
winners out of ordinary people."
~K.
Patricia Cross
