what makes a teacher?

when i was a little girl i used to play "teacher". i loved setting up school in our basement and reading books and handing out assignments to my make believe students. when i was in elementary school, i loved cleaning the chalk boards and wanted to write on them all day long with colored chalk...that real smooth stuff. i loved all the details of being a teacher...stickers, putting smily faces on papers, recess and of course "heads up 7-up". there was a reason i loved playing teacher so much...i had great examples!

do you remember your favorite teacher? what was it about that person that made them your favorite? was it because they were especially nice to you? was it because they pushed you to your potential? over my years of schooling i had several teachers that stood out.

* miss staples aka mrs. anderson: was my 1st grade teacher. she was the sweetest teacher around. i just remember her gentle spirit and loving heart.


* miss love: was my 2nd grade teacher and was miss staples' friend! they were so much alike. i was so glad to have both of them especially since in 1st & 2nd grade i broke my leg (same leg, same bone...i know, crazy). both of them took the extra time to help me in the classroom and out on recess. for that i will always remember these ladies.


as i grew older the relationship with my teachers became different. as i "matured" (as much as a teenager can do), teachers became more like friends. in high school i had many teachers that i loved. not only because they were good teachers but because it went beyond teaching. they touched my heart and soul as a young person trying to find my way in life.

* miss bowman: she taught economics...she was very hard in class, but great. you either liked her or you didn't. she was my mentor in the girls' discipleship group. she became my friend.

* mrs. orme: was my typing teacher. she taught business classes. i didn't do too well in typing because i couldn't get the keys memorized...still don't know them all. what is so special about mrs. orme is that she later became my teacher and advisor in college! she was always so genuine. she helped to mold me to be in the profession that i am today.

* miss scott: what girl doesn't love home economics?!?! miss scott was the teacher. i loved being in that class. she taught me so much about being a domesticated woman...too bad i don't remember a lot of it...like sewing...ugh


* mr. chamberlain: was my art teacher. i enjoyed being creative in many different outlets. i thoroughly enjoyed ceramics during j-term and the drawing in art 1. he went on fine arts trips to nyc. he was a great man to be around.

* mr. mohler: this man was around during my elementary days and high school days. he taught music. he directed the choir. he also was the band and strings director. i participated in all of those groups...singing in the choir and playing the violin and percussion.


and last but not least...

* mr. sundberg: i remember hearing what a tough teacher he was when i was a freshman. students feared him. i would only be fortunate to have him as a teacher my junior year. this was a difficult year for me. i had several issues with health which caused me to miss a lot of school. then of course on top of that i had mr. sundberg for english. english was not one of my better subjects (still isn't). i love to write but the whole grammar thing just gets me. from what i remember of mr. sundberg he was tough but loving. he pushed you to be all you could be. he had high standards and by all means should have. he was a friend to the students and a friend to me when i needed it.


a few of these people i see on occasion and still keep in touch via email. it's neat to have a relationship with them after all these years. it's comforting to be able to go back to those more innocent days and reminisce.

thank you to all teachers past and present for your sacrifice. you challenged, you disciplined, you befriended, you laughed, you cried, you prayed, you discipled, you taught. i am forever grateful to you!