The first presentation I ever remember making was in Bruce Saulpaugh's English class - my tenth grade year. I was to analyze a popular fairy tale. I chose "Rumpelstiltskin". I placed my report in a red, three-prong folder with a crude drawing as the title page and hoped for the best. I remember it was hot the day I had to present. It must have been late summer in Orlando. I had just hiked the less than a quarter of a mile from the main campus to the classrooms located "Under the Pines" at Bishop Moore Catholic High School, but I was sweating. The heat of the afternoon plus the heat of pressure was getting to me. I sat down in Mr. Saulpaugh's class, biting my nails, waiting to be called on to present my analysis. When it was finally my turn, I got to the front of the class (I'm not sure how) and then leaned against the board (a chalkboard, my friends, we were learning in the early 90s, no whiteboard to be found here!). My sweaty back adhered to the board and I began to share. When I was finished with my presentation, I heaved myself off the board only to be horrified by the HUGE sweaty back mark I left! What did my classmates do? What else (to my utter embarrassment)?! They laughed, of course. What did Mr. Saulpaugh do? Not a thing. He complemented my presentation and moved on to the next student.Fast forward to senior year of college. I wanted nothing more than to be a teacher. I was a senior at Elon University in the semester before I was to student teach. Nothing was going to keep me from reaching this goal. EXCEPT. I was unable to meet the qualifying score on the math Praxis exam for the state of North Carolina. You see, I have extreme test-taking anxiety, something that too many of our students face. Enter my Angel, Jean Schwind. Dr. Schwind tutored me through FIVE Praxis exams before I changed majors and spent an extra semester at Elon. She never laughed and she ALWAYS believed I would be a teacher. When I had to change majors and my classes and the Dean of the College of Ed laughed at me, I KNEW I could be what I believed I could be because Mr. Saulpaugh and Dr. Schwind said it was so!
Two years after I began a career in my "new" major, I knew I had made a mistake. I went back to school, applied for an alternative certification and have been married to a classroom whether it's room 244 or 8-204 or an office somewhere in a district far, far away. I am blessed to be a product of two of the people I admire so much, but it is more than that. Others have guided me on my journey. Mary Jacoby, my first department head, one of my best friends and my mentor, showed me how to lead an English department to success. Wanda Gilson-Smith, reminded, daily, of the days and years I had to make an impact on the kids I taught. Anne Bieber, shared the leadership side of being an administrator and how to share difficult ideas with a department full of different personalities. Shawn O'Keefe, builds me up and continues to offer me opportunities beyond the walls of my current position. The newbies I have had the opportunity to mentor (Holly Wood, Carrie Adams and Lisa Fosmoen come to mind) and guide are among my greatest accomplishments because I can pass on what I've learned and learn new ways to reach the kids I teach. Today, I work with teachers to help them use educational technology to engage their students. My reach far exceeds that of my classroom because of the two people who taught me how to teach.
Here's what I've learned:
- Engage
- Share Your Passion
It does not matter the subject area. Love what you do. Do what you love. Share your love and what you do for others and you will be rewarded.
On this National Teacher's Day, I encourage you to reach out - email, Edmodo, Message, GMail, Skype, Tweet, SHARE your appreciation for the teacher(s) who meant the most to you. Send a Thank You Note - the UNIVERSAL calling card of honor and appreciation!
