Beech Tree News Network

Solomon Ortiz said, “Education is the key to success in life, and teachers make a lasting impact in the lives of their students” (https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/teacher). Locally, students return to school next week. Hopefully, everyone had a restful break and is ready for a new school year. I’m sure students, faculty and staff have mixed feelings about returning, but student learning is boosted by good teachers.

Thinking along that line, I asked a few Butler County and Ohio County teachers: “What do you like best about being a teacher?” Their responses are listed below:

·   The look on a kid’s face when whatever you are trying to teach...rather, whatever they are trying to learn, CLICKS. That is the definition of “purpose” in my book.

·    I can sum up what I like best about teaching into 2 things. The first and most important is helping kids reach their potential. I love to see kids grow throughout the year while they are with me and for the years to come. Kids come to my class at all stages in their life and learning. My goal is to help them grow while with me. It makes my heart happy to see the excitement in achieving their goals and their drive to learn more. I love when it comes full circle and they are growing up, getting jobs, and becoming successful adults. The second thing I love about teaching is that I am privileged to work with people that share the same feelings as me. I am surrounded with people that love and care for all our students. We all work together to do what’s best for the students and their needs. Teaching is a privilege, and I look forward to the start of the new school year.

·    There are so many things I like about being a teacher. I think what I like more than anything though is just interacting with my students. I love getting to know them, their dreams, and their hopes. I hope in some way that something I do will encourage them to reach for things that maybe they thought were not attainable and help them realize that anything is possible!

·     Being a small part of a child’s life is amazing.  I loved celebrating their victories in the classroom as well as life!

·     What I like best about being a teacher is seeing the kids “get it”! I love when I can actually see the kids learning and growing!

·     Being a consistent source of joy for my students. They come from such diverse backgrounds...some receive very little love and nurturing or what they do is inconsistent. I love to see in their eyes and in their body language a sense of joy and safety, knowing that, at least here, they are loved and valued and things are good.

·     I love the connections that I make with my students. The only way to change the world is through education, and I love the fact that I’m a small part of their story.

·    Building relationships with kids that most likely don’t have good role models at home.

·    My favorite things about teaching are the relationships that are built. The love and care you pour into these kids results in a relationship that outlasts their years in the BC school system. I also love seeing the growth each year. I get to see these five year olds blossom, gain independence and achieve goals that didn’t seem possible at the beginning of the year.  It’s just indescribable the joy that it brings me. I love it!

·    I was just thinking the other day of how excited I am each year to meet the new Kindergarten students. A wide range of emotions can be seen on those sweet little faces, and it's my job to make sure they have a great start to their school career.

·    I love that I get to share books and my love of reading with all age ranges. Helping a student find their next favorite book or series is the best. It’s a two way street, too. I've found fun and interesting books from student recommendations! When I see students who have gone on to the middle school and we can have discussions about what they are reading, that's just magic!

·    Getting to see students pursue and succeed in careers that I helped them prepare for while in high school.

·    Working with preschool age children, I would say the most rewarding thing for me is getting to be part of their educational foundation! Many times I have been their first teacher besides their parents, that’s BIG! Teaching and working with young children is truly my passion!

·    I want to touch the future in a positive way, so the only way I know to do that is work with children. Plus, when I walk into a school building or on a campus, I can literally smell potential because these students can be anything they want, and that stirs something in my soul

·     My favorite part of being a librarian is watching a student’s face light up when I show him or her a book that he/she recommended that I buy.  Then, I give that student the first opportunity to check it out. My favorite part of being in the classroom was having a student say something was easy when I knew it really was a difficult concept.  I knew I had done my job!

·    My favorite thing about teaching is that I get to be a difference maker. I have the opportunity to make a difference in their learning, in their outlook on life, and in their day-to-day school experience. I thank God for the calling on my life to be a teacher because I truly love it

·      I feel God has placed me in this position to be a positive role model and Christian influence. I love seeing the connections made to content and real life applications; but more importantly, the relationships I have formed with kids over the years are priceless!

·     I love it when I see my students out of school, and they are excited to see me.

·     I love teaching them new things and then seeing the pride on their faces when they apply it. 

·    Being a teacher is the best job in the world! As a teacher, you get to help mold the future generation to become anything they put their mind to. The best part is seeing your students and former students succeed in life.

·    I love working with the kids. It is amazing watching them grow physically, intellectually, and emotionally through their middle school years. It can be a difficult time for some kids figuring out who they are and how to fit in. It is very rewarding to be a positive influence and know that you are making a difference in a child's life. There is nothing quite like seeing the joy on a kid's face when they have succeeded at anything really, whether it's getting a proficient on a writing assignment, learning to hit a softball, or answering a simple question in a class discussion. Knowing that in a small way you have helped a kid feel like they are accomplishing goals and are a valuable part of the classroom or team, in possibly the most frustrating years of their life, is the reason I teach.

Deval Patrick said, “A great teacher who is full of excitement and love for her students can make all the difference in their lives,” and John Wooden said, “I think the teaching profession contributes more to the future of our society than any other single profession” (https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/teacher). And based on the responses above, I believe we have some great teachers in our area. Hopefully, the 2019-2020 school year will be a good year for everyone