Education, etc.

A recent conversation with my husband ended with him saying, “You really learned a lot from your own teachers as a student but also from teachers as a teacher.” As much as it pains me to say, he is right. A quick review of my own learning led me to a list of some amazing teachers and the impacts they have had on my life. I am not a perfect teacher. I never will be. But I have had the opportunity to learn from some absolute masters of their craft. As we begin the spring semester, I would like to share a list of the amazing lessons I have learned in hopes of passing them on to the next generation of teachers.

Linda Meyer: Linda had some amazing stories from being at Woodstock to raising a kangaroo while living in Australia. Students often tried to find a photo of her at Woodstock, but I do not believe any have ever been found. A phenomenal math teacher, Mrs. Meyer’s stories were animated and usually included the phrase “and all” at some point while she gestured with her hands. She taught me your authentic self is more than enough for your students. Be yourself.

Moses Everett, Jr: After having commanded ships, a naval base, and completing a successful career in the United States Navy, I first learned from Mr. Everett when he started his second career as a graduation coach at the school where I began my teaching career. I sat in many meetings when teachers were trying to think of a delicate way to say what needed to be said without upsetting the child, the parent, or whoever else who was in the room. Mr. Everett was an expert at saying what needed to be said, to the point, without making anything personal or overly emotional, and when he was done, it was rare to need anything else to be said. He was not afraid to speak up, back it up with documentation, and identify a situation for what it was. I am so thankful I had the opportunity to watch and learn from him early on in my career. Be willing to say what needs to be said, and do what needs to be done, even if it means you do it alone.

Coach John Booth: If you had his class, you know what I want to say without saying it. We learned more than enough history in the form of a soap opera with a daily episode. Heaven help you if you had the lowest score on a test, you had to carry around a statue of a Confederate soldier until the next test. Many of Coach Booth’s methods would not be welcomed in today’s classrooms, but as a student, you did not miss class because you did not want to miss the show. He taught me how you deliver your content is just as important as the content you deliver. Be a master storyteller.

Lesa Cannon: Soft spoken, small in stature, and gentle in nature, Lesa commanded a classroom with just her presence. Mrs. Cannon was not afraid to tell you her concerns or her convictions, but she also did not bother to waste time trying to change your mind if you were not willing to listen. From Lesa, I learned you do not have to be a big person to command a room. Be powerful in your own skin.

Laura Kornegay: Mrs. Kornegay taught me my freshman science class in high school. I like to think she is partly responsible for me becoming a science teacher. I had the opportunity to teach with her, under her leadership, before she retired from teaching. I remember her telling another teacher, “Bethany will tell you, I was strict, I am not as much now.” Have kids changed that much that teachers do not need to be strict anymore? No. But what I gathered from that conversation was a veteran teacher realized they had made changes during their career, and they were willing to share that with others. She spoke at the state and national science conferences, shared her lessons, and was quick to help if you went looking for it. Be willing to share your successes and your failures, you never know who you may be influencing.

Erin White: A mother of five busy and involved children, Mrs. White seemed to always have a room full of students and a house full of kids. Some were her own, some were just along with someone who may or may not have been hers, but all were welcome. I was a young mother trying to put one foot in front of the other with two children, sometimes wanting to go home and weep. Erin was always involved in things with her kids and at school. Instead of being on the verge of tears like me, she was always on the verge of laughter. From Erin I learned to open your heart, have a sense of humor, and share your talents with others. Be willing to laugh.

Michial Mayhall: When you play a sport or participate in an activity like band, your coaches, instructors, and directors have the power to make or break you. I can look back now and laugh as I remember Mr. Mayhall was responsible for my first panic attack. I was a senior. I had to decide about wearing a specific uniform for a game. He asked me for my decision. I explained that I would do whatever he thought was best. He said, “No, you will make the decision, without my opinion, or the opinion of anyone else. And I want your decision by the end of class today.” I was so accustomed to the advice of others; I had never had to decide on my own without someone else telling me what they thought I should do. What seems like such a simple decision now was momentous at the time. He forced me to stand on my own two feet and I am so grateful for it now. Of all the lesson he taught me, I did not always need the direction of others, I could make a decision, the right decision, and I needed to learn that for myself. Be confident.

Sabrina Boykins-Everett: I was lucky enough to have a conversation with Mrs. Everett where she was willing to share her own experiences to help me change my mindset. After I hung up the phone from that lengthy conversation, I sat alone in a quiet house and reflected on all she shared, how I felt about it, what I might have done in her shoes, and how the truth is, I could not have been as graceful as she was. I think of that conversation often and what I gained from her willingness to be vulnerable. Of the many things I learned from that conversation and others we have had, the biggest lesson is that there will also be those who hold to their prejudices in the face of your accomplishments, succeed anyway. Be a beacon in the face of darkness, you may never know who sees the truth because of your light.

Lynn Stowers: The first time I remember being happily relieved was when I asked Mrs. Stowers to review a short statement I needed to send to parents. Commas have always been the pain of my writing and with this group of parents, I was not willing to have one in the wrong place. I asked her to look over it; she did, she handed it back to me, and she said, “It’s right.” I think I walked on air for the rest of the day. I often giggled to myself if her choice of words in telling a story to her fellow educators fell short of the King’s English. After all, if there was a more appropriate term, she knew it, and yet, she said what she said. Mrs. Stowers could be extremely intimidating and conference week with students was often a hard week, but she was not trying to break a student, she showed them where to grow. So many of her students went on to write in their college classes without having to navigate the freshman writing curve thanks to her guidance. What was tough for them at that moment became something many were grateful for later. Be tough, but with a purpose, so your students learn to grow through the sidewalk cracks and reach for the sun.

Frank “Poppa D” Delaney, Jr.: I swear the man is a walking, talking rolodex. When I was a student, he knew everyone’s name, not just the frequent flyers. He knew who was related to who, what bus they rode, and if they missed the bus, he knew which bus they could catch from which load that would take them home. He also knew who drove each of the buses. Right was right, wrong was wrong, and the one time I ended up in his office, I was set straight very quickly with a simple explanation of how my poor decision could have been a disaster for someone else. He did not raise his voice, he did not fuss, but I was duly reprimanded. To this day, walking into that office makes me cringe a little. Not so many years ago, one of my children needed redirection in front of Poppa D. I handled it as best as I could at the moment, while trying to leave school for the day, and said we would address it in the car. Pop said, “Now hold up a minute. What needs to be said in that car that you did not say just now. You handled it, its done, move on.” All I could do was say, “Yes sir,” because he was right. Some adults would have left that conversation and thought it was not his place to tell me how to parent my child. But when you are lucky enough to have learned from the influence of his wisdom, you do not stop learning when you think you are finally grown. Pop did not just know our names; he called us by our names. If someone was heard singing in the hallway during class, it was probably him. He has left his mark on the lives of so many, and he still is. Be willing to leave your mark.

You may notice, I did not mention fabulous lesson plans or amazing teaching examples. Somewhere along the way, these teachers taught me the Pythagorean theorem, diagramming a sentence, Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle, and the finer points of how the end of WWI created circumstances that led directly to WWII. Although those lessons were taught, some I think I remember learning, their lasting impact on me is not content based on more in their humanity. There have been many, many more who have shared their wisdom, imparted guidance, led by example, helped behind the scenes, and left their mark, but when I think about those who have taught me, these are the ones that stand out.

When you think back on your own years of learning, who shaped you? Who taught you? And what did you learn from them that makes you who you are today? For those of you not in education, this time of year if often difficult. The weather is gloomy, it is cold and flu season, there are few breaks, and everyone is yearning for spring. If you think back on your own learning and a specific teacher comes to mind, take a moment to send them an email, a direct message, a public shout out on social media, and tell them what they meant to you. Tell them what you learned from them. I promise you; it means the world to us to know we are making a lasting impact on the lives of our students. After all, that is why we do what we do!