Someone posted recently, asking people to list their favorite teacher and why, in order to boost our teachers’ spirits. I have pondered who my favorite teachers were, trying to choose one, but that feat has proven impossible. As a graduate of the Galesburg school system, I was blessed to have many wonderful teachers. After my graduation from high school, I attended college at Brigham Young University where I majored in applied and discrete mathematics. After college, I became a teacher in a rural high-needs district in Mississippi, hoping to impact lives just as mine was impacted by wonderful teachers. Eventually, I found my way back to Galesburg, where I taught mathematics at GHS North for its first two years. I left GHS North to attend law school. I graduated as valedictorian of my law school class in May, and now I work for a law firm in Portland, Oregon, dealing mainly with special education law and related educational issues. I have never been able to leave my passion for education, nor the people who instilled that passion in me, behind. It is largely because of the great teachers I had in Galesburg that I have been able to accomplish any of the things I have done in my life so far. It is because of them that I am who I am today. Instead of choosing one favorite teacher, I have decided to list as many as I can think of and explain how those teachers have impacted my life. I hope that no one is offended if they are left off this list inadvertently. I merely want to express my sincere appreciation for those special souls I called teacher and those I was privileged to call colleague as a teacher and member of GEA myself. Some of them are still teachers, some of them are retired, and some of them have passed on, but all of them changed my life for the better. Thank you to Anne Carman-Hendel, for being willing to notice a little girl who was absolutely terrible at art (truly, I have no talent at all), but she made me feel talented in her class, nonetheless. To Mrs. Myers, my third grade teacher, who made learning fun. To Mrs. Wiegand, my fifth grade teacher, who made a scared, shy student feel important and special in a new school for her last year of elementary school. To Sandra Odell, my teacher, mentor, and friend, who has been supportive of me since the first day I met her. To Mrs. Benne, who somehow tolerated my awkward sixth-grade self. To Doug Ferreter, who explained math in a way that made sense to me for the first time in my life. It was in his class that my love of the subject that has governed much of the last two decades of my life began. To Mr. Spencer, who taught me to love chemistry. I’m still impressed by memories of his amazing use of a slide ruler. To Coach Teresa Ann Powell, one of the best volleyball coaches ever. To Tim Johnson, whose love of chemistry was palpable. I would take a million chemistry classes from him if I could. To Rosemary Eisemann, who loved math more than any human being should but nurtured my love of math, too. To David Baxter, who taught some of the most exciting and engaging classes I have ever had the privilege of being a student in. I have developed a lifelong love of astronomy (which eventually grew into a study of theoretical physics) because of his class. To Mr. Peachey, who taught me the photosynthesis dance. Yes. There was a dance. I still remember it. To Mrs. Stewart and Mrs. Gohring, for teaching the best American Studies class ever. To John Glasnovich, who was willing to spend his precious time before and after school talking with me about history and the law, but equally willing to help me learn to play the guitar. To Russ Ullrich, who let me hang out with the cool kids in his classroom, even though I wasn’t a TEC member. You might be surprised, Russ, to learn that I took programming classes in college. I was good at it. And it was fun. ;) To Frau Banks, who watched out for me when I felt like I was drowning and took proactive steps to help me outside of school during a difficult time in my life. I don’t know if she will ever understand how she saved me from a nervous breakdown during my junior year of high school. To Al Bayless, who completely changed my outlook on life, the universe, and most importantly, myself. Before Mr. Bayless, I thought I was a failure in many aspects of my education. To put it bluntly, I thought I was stupid. He taught me I could do so much more than I thought was possible and instilled in me a love of science that will never fade. People like Al Bayless don’t come around very often. He changed my life. I will never forget him. To my colleagues from my time teaching at GHS North, I don’t know if you know how amazing you are. Jordan McDonald, Amy Schroeder Gugliotta, Brandy Dornon, Coach Anderson. I love and miss you all every day, and I am so honored to call you friends. Thank you to all of you for all that you do for your students. I know from first-hand experience as an educator, but also as one who once sat at a desk in many of your classrooms, how hard you work and how much you sacrifice for your charges. You are worth all that you are asking for and more. Don’t give up and try not to let your spirits fall. So many people are behind you. I am one of them, and I am grateful for all you do. I am proud to call Galesburg my home when great people like you are in it.
Posted on: Fri, 22 Aug 2014 04:43:23 +0000