Certain subjects have inspired many educators. Algebra II and AP Calculus teacher, Bruce Eaton, said he has always felt like a good teacher.
“School was always a good experience for me,” Eaton said. “I enjoyed elementary school, I enjoyed junior high, and I liked high school. In high school I felt I was good at explaining things to my fellow students. When I came out of college, I just wanted to be back in school somehow.”
But some teachers said they did not really plan on being teachers to begin with. Several had it as a second choice, but ended up enjoying it nonetheless.
“When I got out of high school I wanted to be a marine biologist, the reason I got my teaching certificate was to make sure I was employable,” AP Psychology teacher Amy McConnell said. “When I started getting into my teacher prep classes and going around campus working with students, I felt really at home and really comfortable in that environment and I realized that this is where I would rather spend my days working.”
According to Eaton he initially wanted to become a counselor, but later on he realized he would rather teach than counsel kids. Eaton explained he is able to understand how the students feel about learning this subject, since he had struggled with math in college and in late high school. World Geography and World History teacher L. Wayne Brockinton said the great thing about teaching is interacting with the students.
“Making the difference in some kids’ lives is the great thing about teaching,” Brockinton said. “I used to teach at an intercity school, where I felt that I made a difference every day. Most kids in Cinco come from pretty good families, so they’re in pretty good shape, unlike the kids in the intercity. But I still just enjoy being a part of their lives, and teaching them something.”
Brockinton emphasizes that those who would like to go into the teaching profession must make sure it is what they really want before going for it.
“The year I was hired there were ten teachers hired, and out of those ten teachers I’m the only one still teaching,” Brockinton said. “I think it’s a lot harder than people give credit for. The grading, kids who misbehave, and sometimes the parents who can be difficult can be really frustrating. Understand that you’re not going to get paid a lot, but you just have to get involved as much as you can.”
According to McConnell, teaching is a very hands-on job and it requires the teacher to enjoy working with both students and teachers.
“Someone who wants to be a teacher has to want to make those good relationships with students, and also work collaborately with peers,” McConnell said. “It’s about working with young people, sharing your knowledge with them and inspiring their desire to learn.”
Some teachers believe students do not see all the intricacies behind teaching, for it is a tougher profession than one sees in the classroom. For the teacher, there is a life outside of the school that they go home to every day.
“There [is] a multitude of things outside the classroom that can make teaching challenging to do,” Eaton said. “This is my 24th year teaching, and I cannot imagine getting out of college and saying I want to be a teacher for the next 25 years. There’s too many parts of teaching that I can’t control that make it frustrating.”
Still, Eaton said the time periods in the classroom with the students are the highlight of any teacher’s day.
“I love being with my students, I have great kids!” Eaton said. “I have students who I think respect me, and I certainly respect them. And I hope at the end of the day that their math class with me is not their worst period of the day.”
