In honor of Teacher Appreciation Week, we at Search want to recognize those teachers who have inspired us. Feel free to leave the name of your own teacher who has influenced your life in the comments below.
Deena Bartley, Project Coordinator
One of the best memories I have of my high school days was made during my junior year when our concert band participated in a competition of bands in New Orleans. During one of the pieces, I had a very difficult French Horn solo. I had to go from a low note to a very high note in one jump and sustain it, which is difficult for a musician at that level. What’s more, this was a true solo — there were no other instruments playing softly as support. Mine was the only sound in the room of judges for five long measures. I was nervous! What was exhilarating was that I played that solo the best I ever had in any of our practices. But what seared this experience to my memory, not only as a delightful memory, but also as a huge self-confidence booster, is that after our performance, when I had returned to my hotel room to relax, Mr. S, as we called our band director, came to my hotel door. When I answered, he told me that he wanted to stop by to tell me how wonderfully I had played and that he was very impressed and proud of me. I can still see the smile on his face as he spoke these precious words. I floated the rest of that band trip, and float still when I think about it.
Tenessa Gemelke, Publishing Manager
My kindergarten teacher, Dolores Manke, sent me a handmade card when I graduated from high school. She included a thoughtful note and a copy of our kindergarten class photo. I couldn’t believe that she even remembered who I was! I was very touched.
Our second-grade teacher, Bruce Drewlow, gave out books as rewards when we did well on spelling tests. He always let us select the books we wanted, but he took the time to inscribe a personal note in the front cover of each book. I still have mine.
My fifth-grade teacher, Warren Berkeley, found the most creative ways to motivate us. He once insisted that Martians had visited him and bestowed upon him special candies that made students smarter: Marvelous Martian Pellets. (They were green M&Ms.) Of course we paid close attention to any lesson involving Martians.
My sixth-grade language arts teacher, John Allen, started a “newspaper” for the middle school. It was really just a stapled packet of student stories and essays, but that was the first time any of us had seen our work published. I am sure it was a ton of work for him, but it meant the world to us.
My seventh-grade science teacher, Loren Wiger, taught us about conserving water. He had a personal contract we could sign if we wanted to commit to trying not to waste water. Before we signed these contracts, he asked us to really think about it. He said there was no pressure to sign it and that the contract wasn’t worth signing if we didn’t mean it. His heartfelt speech made me take the lesson very seriously; I still think of him every time I try to conserve water.
My eighth-grade English teacher, Deb Ahmann, gave us the freedom to be hilarious. She procured a video camera for the class and entered our productions in statewide contests. I’m sure our Saturday Night Live ripoffs were obnoxious, but she laughed with us and made us excited about learning. I’ve never enjoyed a class more than hers.
My high school Spanish teacher, Michelle Robinson, knew how important our friendships were, and she never tried to split people up the way some teachers did. She had rules about classroom behavior, and she made sure everyone was included in group projects, but she also allowed us to sit with our friends and encouraged us to study together. She also stayed after school and offered a sympathetic ear when we had interpersonal problems. She always helped us work things out and get along with each other. Nineteen years later, I am still very close to a dear friend I met in that class.
My chemistry teacher, Mr. Gullickson, was the perfect blend of challenging and hilarious. His class was unbelievably hard, but somehow still fun. We studied for hours and hours before his tests. If anyone aced a test and got every single answer correct, he would apologize to the class. He woud say, “I’m sorry I failed you as a teacher. Tests are supposed to reveal the things you still need to learn. Apparently I am not challenging you enough.” We assured him that our brains couldn’t withstand any further challenges, and we promised to get something wrong on the next test.
Gregory VanHee was the kind of English teacher you would see in a movie. He was inspirational, thoughtful, witty, and passionate. I grew up in a small town, but his class took us far beyond our rural experiences. His lessons on communication, racism, and war made me think about the rest of the world in a different light. Nothing prepared me for college and adult life more than his class.
Jonna Bjornebo was a stickler for attendance. If we missed her class, we were expected to obtain comprehensive notes from our fellow students. To test our attention to detail, she would ask us what she called “unfair questions.” I remember once interrogating my friends about her lesson on The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams. I thought I had recorded every possible fact about the play, but Ms. Bjornebo’s unfair question was, “What did they serve the gentleman caller for dinner?” I was stumped, and I complained that the question was . . . well, unfair, of course! Always very pleasant and somewhat impish, she replied, “It may be unfair, but it is still relevant. They served salmon for dinner. The scene takes place during Lent, so we know that the family was Catholic. Now you have a richer understanding of the characters.” I was totally stupefied—but I still remember that lesson 20 years later.
Erika Klein, Survey Services Coordinator
Al Henry and Judy Bott at Devils Lake High School taught me how to think critically, excel at arduous essay questions, and be a citizen of the world.
Kwenen Nelson, Resource Specialist
For over 30 years, my mom has taught in a variety of settings. Her students, from all over the world, have met her on reservations, in rural communities, and in special education classrooms in high schools and elementary schools. The students have mostly been those who other teachers deem “unteachable.” My mom has been injured by students, threatened, and neglected by administration. At the end of a bad day, I will ask her if she’s had enough of teaching. She will tell me that although she does not love the politics of her job or the job itself, she loves teaching and her students.
Marilyn Peplau, Trainer
Mrs. Fern Martinson and Mrs. Shirley Kleve were teachers at Ulysses School in Rice Lake, Wisconsin, and I was so lucky to be one of their students in a one-room country school. Mrs. Martinson was my teacher during first and second grade—and how I loved learning to read even if the plot wasn’t too intricate with Jane, Dick and Sally! She gave every student a role which was essential to keep the school running smoothly—youth as resources (asset #8) and service to others (asset #9). Additionally, she used cross-age tutoring and mentoring even before they were regarded as best practices! Mrs. Kleve was the teacher during my third through fifth grade; can you say looping? Not only did she teach students scattered across eight grades all subject areas, but she also supervised recess, served the casseroles that our mothers made for hot lunch, and cleaned the school! It was clear that her high expectations (asset #16) for us were surpassed by great adult role modeling (asset #15). I am so grateful for these two women for fostering a love of learning that has been my constant companion.
Andrea Pope, Marketing and Communications Assistant
Sixth grade was inspiring and memorable, mostly because of Mr. Ellis. I will always remember his enthusiasm for life, ability to treat his students as capable and gifted, and confidence that we could and would be prepared for the ever-looming Junior High experience the following year. I remember the last day in his classroom, leaving the safety of elementary school with many tears but also with great expectations for the years ahead. I’ve run into Mr. Ellis several times throughout the years, and he still remembers me and takes sincere interest in my life.
Flora Sanchez, Trainer
When I was in 5th grade I began to get in trouble at school. I wanted so badly to “fit in” with group of popular girls. Despite having caring parents and strong values, I found myself doing what the group told me I had to do, going in the front door of the candy store next door to the school, and out to back with candy in my pocket I hadn’t paid for. I was shoplifting, and thank goodness, not very good at it. Twice I ended up in the principal’s office where I got a severe scolding and a trip in the back of his car to my home. You can imagine my mother’s shame. Back at school, facing my “friends” I would forget my parent’s tears and admonitions, even the well-deserved punishment I received and soon I was in trouble again. And then one day Ms. Meyerheim took me outside the classroom and holding my chin in her hands, looked deep into my eyes and said simply: “Flora, you’re a bright girl with so much promise. You can be anything you want to be. I need your help. Can you stay after school and help me grade papers and put up my bulletin boards? I’ll drive you home.” I said yes and found a new person to please—one who intervened in a gentle and positive way at a moment when I could have chosen a very wrong path. She inspired me to become a teacher—and I chose to teach 5th grade.
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