Master of All Trades

Several things have gone very wrong toward my being a "Master Teacher". First of all is the technology block. The school and home computer systems have been giving me fits. I have learned a lot about computers this past year, especially using it for NTI. My room is getting a new computer projection system like the one we have at GSU ! I am learning a lot of new tricks, but would really just like my email to work correctly. To reach the level of "Master" will require me to master the latest technology. I don't think that I am too old to really "get with it" because my father is doing well with his computers. I have also learned that the cell phone is almost like having a weapon in your class room. Students will do anything to be able to embarrass a teacher by putting something on U-Tube. I have gotten tighter with my cell phone policy.

I have seen signs of what has gone right. Last year I had a senior that was not doing well in his other classes. He loved being in my auto tech class and excelled in all areas and I selected him to be a class leader and mentor toward the end of the term last year. I selected him to be one of the CTAE Star Students. Other teachers came to me in amazement asking me why I had made this unusual choice. I stuck by him and his selection, his mentoring, his leadership, and his graduation. I saw him him this past week when he came back to Callaway High School in his proud Army uniform. The first place he visited was my room and I was so proud of him. The next room he visited was the ROTC room to speak as a mentor for their program. Now my boss wants me to start a school wide mentoring program. He thinks I sometimes work a few miracles in other areas beside teaching. I think my reward comes back to me when my former students take their time to thank me later, and I see their successes in life and work beyond high school.