Dojo With Dr. C

Post date: May 3, 2017 4:57:19 PM

Former Mr. Carter, now Dr. Carter, is sadly leaving the Central Mag fam to go one mile down the street to be a professor at MTSU. He'll be a BLAHBLAHBLAH, so basically he'll be a teacher of the teacher. As part of our series of interviewing beloved teachers moving to different professions or retiring, we emailed Dr. Carter to get some insight on his life and the direction it's going.

1) As a child or teen, what was the career you thought you'd end up doing?

My longtime goal, dating back to high school, was to open a karate school of my own. While attending MTSU, I taught various martial arts classes for my mentor Dr. Payne. He encouraged me to get a teaching license and pursue a doctorate one day in the future. So I ended up as an English major, sort of on accident, and made my English class my own dojo.

2) What was your favorite memory at Central Magnet?

I have so many, so I will mention a few. On my first day here at Central, back in 2013, Dr. G pulled me aside and told me that she was so glad that I joined the faculty. I felt so loved and welcomed in that moment, and she's been in my corner every step since. Also, free-styling in the parking lot with Zavior, Nash, Griffin, and Jake was awesome. Check twitter for the proof of bars being dropped. Working with Chandler on the Beowulf game was unforgettable. Playing in the teacher talent show with Greenwell, Andrew, and Anna was also so much fun, plus MC-ing the show alongside Nichols has been awesome. The Writing Lab is something I'll never forget too. My co-director and dear friend Sarah Esberger, along with a core of dedicated students, have created something special. I’ve learned so much from my PLC partner Lynne Maxwell, and I will miss our 2nd period chats. Lastly, I'll sorely miss what I call "Dinner with Greenwell," which is our lunchtime together where we try to fix the world in 22 minute increments.

3) What goals do you plan to reach as a teacher at MTSU?

I hope to work with pre-service teachers as well as graduate students in education to ensure that we do everything we can as teachers to make school exciting, engaging, and relevant for students. I also want to guarantee that we provide them with the skills they need for the 21st century. Essentially, what can we do to heighten creativity and imagination among students? How can we encourage them to do something just a little bit different?

4) What's your advice for upcoming seniors taking English? What about new teachers coming to Central?

Senior year at Central is tough, but it's worth it because you will be fully equipped to jump headlong into college. You've had a series of incredible teachers, and all the hard work you've put in will undoubtedly pay off, but you must be patient to see the fruits of your efforts. New teachers coming to Central, similarly, need to know that this is a demanding school, one filled with inquisitive and driven students, and you too will work tirelessly to help them grow. These results will also pay off when you see these Central students soar.