How a Good Teacher Makes a Difference

I am a firm believer that a teacher's positive impact spans further than we know. Teaching is one of the most important professions in the world, and without it, the population would be largely uneducated and unsocialized. With that being said, not all teachers are “good.” Teaching is more difficult than you might think. Luckily for us at Kenmore West, we have hundreds of amazing teachers who make education fun and interesting, and that excitement will stay with us for the rest of our lives. 

I got the chance to interview a few KW staff members about what they think makes a good teacher.  The consensus is that a good teacher should be kind, should listen to their students, be a leader, be positive and fun, and that they love learning themselves.

Along that same path, the teachers I interviewed also talked about what made a good, cooperative student. They said that a good student should be open-minded, hardworking, and respectful to others. A good student can learn from their mistakes and try their best.

Of course, no one is perfect, not even the best teacher. So, I wanted to know what teachers have learned throughout their careers. French teacher, Ms. Woodruff said that the most important thing she learned from another teacher was to “start each day with a fresh slate. Don't hold any grudges.” Similarly, Mrs. Schmitz, one of our Physical Education teachers, said, “Don't get bent out of shape by small stuff. You can't get caught up in the little things. You can't start on a negative note.” Mrs. Carroll, who teaches English said, “I think someone told me that teaching is the best profession because we get a new fresh start every year. I look forward to that fresh start every year, and I love that about education.” These life lessons apply to students too. It’s okay to have a hard day, or even a hard week or month, but you can’t let it keep hurting you, and a good teacher will always be willing to let you start over and try again.

Teachers have the ability to impact their students in life-changing ways. Each action is important. Mrs. Altman, who teaches both Living Environment and 8th Grade Science said the the most important thing she can do as a teacher is “...create good relationships with students, make a student feel safe and valued.” 

Teachers leave lasting impacts on students, inspiring others to try their best by reminding them that they have the potential to do amazing things. In fact, most of the teachers we know were inspired by a mentor of their own. For example, Mrs. Carroll said, “My seventh-grade English teacher was definitely my favorite teacher. She was my inspiration to become an English teacher because of her passion for not only using literature as a way to gain other perspectives about the world but also her enthusiasm and genuine love of teaching her students.”

In the end, teachers are important societal figures, and everything they do is important in the development of their students and their education. They do more than just teach students a specific curriculum. They help us develop social skills, critical thinking, empathy, kindness, and many more things. I was so grateful to be able to interview just a few incredible teachers in this building.

The important thing to remember is that teachers do so much for us and that we should thank them for it once and a while. Next time you see your favorite teacher, tell them how they’ve helped you grow as both a student and a person. They deserve our appreciation for all they do.