It's always a good day to highlight the life-changing work that great teachers do. Released for Teacher Appreciation Week, 2022, this short episode reminds us of the difference others have made in our lives and the impact we can have as well. Be generous, be grateful, and take the time thank a teacher for the lessons you learned because of their dedication and hard work. Ms. B.J. Fischer, Mr. Tom Glenn, Mr. Frank Desensi, and Dr. Tom Carrere are just a few of my favorite teachers over the years. Listen in to hear from others, some teachers themselves, as they recall some key moments of great influence in their lives.
SHOW NOTES
Joy Robinson (1:40)
Dale Rogers (2:30)
Felicia Mayfield (3:10)
George Wurtzel (4:05)
Maria Xenidou (4:55)
Howard Malitz (8:05)
Lana Camiel (9:00)
Ivana Isailovic (9:25)
John Tanner (10:20)
Joy Robinson - We need more Joy in teaching!
https://lead-learn-change.simplecast.com/episodes/joy-robinson-we-need-more-joy-in-teaching
Dale Rogers - School, Industry, School - Always a Teacher
Felicia Mayfield - A Class Act: Lessons For All of Us
https://lead-learn-change.simplecast.com/episodes/felicia-mayfield-a-class-act-lessons-for-all-of-us
George Wurtzel - Woodworker, Teacher, Athlete, Visionary
Maria Xenidou - Share Now. Teach Now.
https://lead-learn-change.simplecast.com/episodes/maria-xenidou-share-now-teach-now
Howard Malitz – What kind of chemistry? A former scientist answers this question.
Dr. Lana Camiel - Rx for Health, Living, and Learning
https://lead-learn-change.simplecast.com/episodes/lana-camiel-rx-for-health-living-and-learning
Ivana Isailovic - Minimizing Bias, Acknowledging Diversity, and Fostering Empathy
John Tanner - Accountability is About the Future
https://lead-learn-change.simplecast.com/episodes/john-tanner-accountability-is-about-the-future
Episode 34 - Many Voices, One Message: Teachers Matter (Teacher Appreciation 2021 episode)
https://lead-learn-change.simplecast.com/episodes/many-voices-one-message-teachers-matter
Episode 7 - H.O.M.E. - Host On Mic Episode - Teachers Matter (a 2019 teacher appreciation episode but not released during the official week of recognition)
David Reynolds (00:11):
What matters most in learning the challenge, the thrill, the benefits, interacting with other people or something else entirely. What is the connection between leading and learning? Does change drive learning or does learning drive change? What's more important teaching or learning? Is everyone a leader, a learner, a teacher want answers, listen in, as we address these intriguing issues through commentary and with guests who share their thinking and tell us their stories lead learn change.
David Reynolds (00:56):
This podcast episode is dedicated to great teachers everywhere. We all know at least one such person and many of us know more than a few. You may be one of these incredible teachers yourself. If so, please accept this sincere message of gratitude for your selfless, dedicated service. Next, some lead learn, change guests share memories about their favorite teachers, people who made a huge impact on their lives.
Joy Robinson (01:20):
Okay. So my first grade teacher, her name was miss Rhynes. And the year that we had her, she actually had breast cancer. And of course we did not know. We knew her hair had fallen out, but of course in first grade you didn't ask questions like that. And the thing that is most memorable about her, she loved us. Of course, she came to work during chemotherapy. She was committed, but she was the first person to say joy. You already know how to read. Let me get you a second grade book. Okay. Joy. You know how to read that book? Let me get you a third grade book. So she was one of the first people who completely stretched me and pushed me because it wasn't like complacent. It wasn't like, you're just gonna be in the, you're gonna be on the blue group today because that's the sky. I mean, I was in my own reading group for a good while in her class because she completely stretched me. My second grade teacher, Ms. Bell was hilarious. She just had a sense of humor. Although she would be getting on to us, we’d be in trouble at the end so we knew we were okay with her.
Dale Rogers (02:29):
Mrs. McMillan high school English teacher kind of took me under her wing and I learned how to write with her. And when I first had my first professional article published in, used to be called school shop, what was it called? Technology education monthly or whatever. In 1992, you know, she was the, one of the first people I went and shared it with that, you know, I wanted her to be proud that one of her students had gone on to be published. And then my tennis coach, who was also a psychology teacher, Lynn Skelton in high school, we've kept in touch. You know, I was president of the key club. He was the key club sponsor again, a very supportive person.
Felicia Mayfield (03:11):
I think the person most recently, who has influenced me the most is the dearly departed Moses Norman, who was our Dean. And I had known him for so long. I really treasure his example of being a positive influence. And he would insert himself into situations that would seem like they would be the most contentious, the most negative. And he would just turn on the sunshine. He would turn the light on in some sort of way. That's what I grabbed from the late Great Dr. Moses Norman. You can be a positive influence. And I just remember that. And it's a part of who I am.
Speaker 6 (04:07):
Actually. There was a, a gentleman at the school for the blind who was a teacher, Mr. Rasnowski. Um, we called Mr. R and, um, he was a blind guy who, uh, he was my idol. The man knew how to do everything. It wasn't one single piece of machinery or equipment at the, in the, in the metal working shop or the woodworking shop or the small engines thing that he didn't know how to run that he didn't know how to take apart, put back together, fix whatever it was or teach you how to run. He was my idol. I mean, he was the guy that I patterned myself after ever since I met him. And his philosophy very similar to mine is that if I know how to do it and you wanna learn how to do it, I will. If you're interested, I will do everything I possibly can to teach you how to do that.
Maria Xenidou (04:55):
First was my math teacher. I was in middle school. I was, uh, really good at math. I was in a public school and he suggested to apply and go through a test to be at a school that was for the, a students. But like very few students would go there and I could get a scholarship. I'd not have to pay because I couldn't afford it. Both myself and my twin sister applied for that. We went through the test and uh, both of us, you know, were qualified to go. So we passed the test, but they could give scholarship only to one of us because they only gave scholarship to one person per family. That was the, the rule, which is respectful. And, um, my sister, we could not afford to pay for it. We not have enough, um, you know, money in my family. Uh, and, um, my sister and I could not separate cause we have, uh, we, we were very, very close.
Maria Xenidou (05:57):
So what my teacher did, he realized that we wanted to learn more than others, but we couldn't because of what I explained. So he would, uh, basically bring us on top of the exercises we had in the book of the approved curriculum. He would bring to me and my sister extra exercises from the curriculum they did at this school. And I say that, and I, I get chills. And this guy, remember this guy, he would spend his break, eating his sandwich you know, what he had from home, his lunch break. And he had hunt written this exercises on a piece of paper, think about years ago now. And my sister and I would hand write it. They were not copy and all that, nothing of that. Like if you think about that for a second, for two years, we were together. Cause she was sitting there as well.
Maria Xenidou (06:52):
So basically she was making resources available to me that I was chosen or approved, but eventually let not have access to, but he was finding a way to make them available. And I remember I, I always had, you know, all the tests done quickly before the other students and then I would, uh, work on 20 more exercises. And I remember that there were only two or three at the end that I couldn't solve. You know, it was like fascinating. And then I had to, I had to wait until next day or next time I could see him. And I would say, okay, we are stuck here. We cannot solve number 79 and 80 help us. He would do all that. So to me, it's above and beyond. I think it's very personal. I feel when I, when I see people who don't have resources, it's like, I feel a tightness on my chest. I have to figure out a way to bring resources to them. I cannot solve everyone's problem, but at least I can solve a problem of a few people, but that's an example of what a teacher can do. So to me, my learning and the way I learned math and later on other, you know, physics and others, all these things were affected by that
Howard Malitz (08:04):
Patrick Flynn, who was my English teacher. I believe in when I was in high school, I wanna say 11th grade, perhaps. And, uh, there's another one. Um, can't remember his first name, but Mr. Jones, he was my geometry teacher. Um, and Mr. Jones actually forgave my sarcasm a lot.
Lana Camiel (08:59):
My grandmother is going to be the first teacher and mentor. She was very kind and very giving and someone who always brought community together. And so I always loved that about her. And I love this in terms of thinking how you should be teaching that you should bring students and you should bring the community together. And that's always has been very inspiring to me.
Ivana Isailovic (09:25):
I, I have a lot of favorite teachers. I mean, first I come from a family of teachers. I think I mentioned that in one of our previous conversations, my grandmother was a teacher. Her mother was a teacher and her grandmother was a teacher. My grandmother is still alive. So she's definitely one of the teachers who, who changed my, my perspective, but also her mother, my great grandmother. Um, who's also a teacher. Uh, she was very strict and, uh, I remember that and I used to get into fights with her because I didn't like the way she forced me to, you know, read something or do a, you know, do maths or whatever it was. But, um, I learned a lot from her a lot.
John Tanner (10:19):
Yeah. That goes to, I think it goes to my third grade teacher, Mrs. Carlisle, you know, it was interesting for me personally, because as someone who grew up with a disability, for those of you out there, you can't see me, but, uh, I grew up without a, a right arm and, uh, it's never bothered me. It's just something that is a part of me and it's never been a concern. But the one thing that I always wanted to, to do was to be treated as normal. And I know that may sound really strange and I never let it affect me. I played baseball, I play golf. It's just never been any kind of an issue. But I also have a, a little irony in there and that I'm an identical twin and there is a two armed version of me. And there is a one armed version of me.
John Tanner (10:58):
And that has always been interesting because you're always looking in a mirror. That's not quite a true reflection of yourself. And I think Mrs. Carlisle in third grade was the first teacher I had, who really understood something about that dynamic and really went out of her way in a very small school, in a very small town to make sure that I had a unique voice and that I could be somebody who could find my own way without having to somehow feel different. And it's a lesson she taught me. It's not a lesson I understood at the time, but it's a lesson that I certainly understood in later years. And so, yeah, Mrs. Carlisle third grade Salem, Utah would be a person that I would absolutely reach out to and say, you know, thanks for everything you did back then.
David Reynolds (11:45):
Wow. The recurring themes of high expectations, commitment, caring, and compassion run through so many of these stories. I hope you've been by these reflections and will take the time to reach out to one of your favorite teachers and tell them, thank you now, a thank you for me for spending a few minutes, listening to this podcast today, consider sharing this episode with a teacher. You know, a simple gesture of kindness can go a long way to improving someone's day. Also check out the show notes for links to each featured guest's full episode and a link to the teacher appreciation 2021 segment. Have a great day until next time go lead, go learn, go make a change. Go.