Today marks the beginning of Teacher Appreciation Week; a time where we tell teachers how grateful we are for the labor of love they devote to students every day.
I’ll hold off on my thoughts about teachers and the state of education. What I really want to know is: “Who is/was your favorite teacher? Why?”
I’ve had many favorites. Mrs. Robinson, who taught me for 3rd and 4th grade challenged me. She differentiated instruction for me to ensure that I wasn’t bored in class.
Mr. Smithson and Ms. McCormick made me love history. They told stories so beautifully and passionately and really made history come alive for me.
Ms. Hudson believed in me. And because she believed in me, she worked with me and on my behalf to make sure that my dreams came true.
Ms. Hebert, Dr. Harris, Dr. Jordan, and Dr. Morrow each took part in molding me into a better writer and thinker. They gave exceptional feedback and insight into how I could be better, time and time again.
Each of these teachers invested in me, and in many cases, took me under their wings and loved me as if I were their own child. They were phenomenal examples to me of what it means to be a great teacher.
So, these are my favorite teachers. Who are yours?
life beyond the well... 
May 2, 2011 at 8:26 pm
This is easy. My first favorite teacher was Ms. Abrams. She was my 4th grade teacher and it was her 1st year out of school. She helped me learn my lines for school plays, helped me memorize by bible verses for bible study (yes at a public school) and let me practice my dance routines for recital in front of my class. She let me be me.
Of course there was Martha Moore. I had her for 10th Honors English, AP European History and 11th grade Honors English. This woman was HARD. Her summer reading list was long for no reason and every time she handed my papers back they would be dripping in red ink. I never got an A on any paper in her class. But I did in most every class after that. She pushed me hard b/c she knew what I was capable of. She would go on and write glowing recommendations helping me with both college admissions and scholarships. She also taught all of my younger siblings.
Lastly, Haile Gerima…my college professor who made grown men stutter and pour sweat in class would be the same person to encourage me to continue with my masters and even to this day is my mentor. I guess you can say I really thrive on tough love.
May 2, 2011 at 9:12 pm
Dr. Hyde, though he rubbed we the wrong way at the time, he did give me the awakening that I deserved and needed at the time. It is not so much for his teaching and what I learned, it was more for his professional and personal investment in me. It make a world of difference and I still hold on to his words today!
May 2, 2011 at 10:17 pm
Jesse Autry — He was my World History, Civics and Politics teacher in High School.
Not only did he have the most energy but I still remember stuff from his class. Great combination.
May 2, 2011 at 10:26 pm
My favorite teacher was Mrs. Whitted from 1st grade. She taught me how to deal with my stuttering problem, the kids in class, and worked extra with me on my reading. she also happens to be the grandmother of my best friend.
2nd fav. is Mr. Purcell from 4th grade. He introduced me to the saxophone. changed my life.
May 2, 2011 at 11:00 pm
Surprisingly, my favorite teacher was the one that terrified me the most. I didn’t learn to appreciate her until after that fact. She was Mrs. Perry, my kindergarten teacher. She was hardcore and set really high standards for her students, yes even at the ages of 5 and 6. She taught me how to read so well that I was able to pick up a newspaper and read it without stumbling. We were reciting poems in her class, and not just 4 line poems, like 30 lines, and I have video to prove it.
She was also a great disciplinarian too. She didn’t take any nonsense and would always use “Officer Friendly” (her 12-inch ruler) to teach us a lesson. Oh and yes, this was public school. I appreciate her because she set the standard for how I approached school, always take the work seriously and inappropriate behavior would not be tolerated. If you ask me, we need more teachers like Mrs. Perry, ones that we fear yet respect at the same time.
May 3, 2011 at 8:33 pm
I have had a good amount of good teachers and professors. My favorite teacher was/is my third grade teacher Mrs. Forbes. She was considered to be the meanest and toughest teacher at the school. Come to find out, she pushed her students to do their best and would not settle for less from them, including me. I was very fortunate to have her as my teacher especially since my class was going to be her last class before she retired. Mrs. Forbes had a way of making a tough subject seem easy to understand. Lastly, she increased my passion for education and wanting to go to school! Thank you Mrs. Forbes!
May 4, 2011 at 5:22 am
Like yourself, it is impossible for me to credit just one teacher as my favorite. Each time I tried it resulted in a different name.
Mrs. Cox was my homeroom teacher in the fourth grade. Her role is a memorable one due to the fact that she worked tirelessly with students from the moment we arrived at school, up until she stood by the classroom door and gave us hugs as we exited for home.
Mrs. Geeston was my seventh grade English teacher. She was favorite of mines due to what I viewed as her work ethic. She stood directly in front of the classroom and taught us about English as well as life. She taught in a rather enlightening, humorous fashion.
Mrs. Surratt was my 11th grade Algebra teacher, a class that stifled me for an entire semester until this she took it upon herself to give me her phone number & offer me tutoring without other students ever knowing. Years after I graduated I read where she had won a teacher of the year award. I was hardly surprised, I even called her and thanked her.
Dr. Watkins, a high school principal, helped me deal with the death of my grandmother for a good week during my 10th grade year. He would allow me to come into his office during lunch and express my concerns over how her death affected me.
Little did I know at the time, but he and my mother were friends and he’d pass my concerns along to her without my ever knowing. It was only after Dr. Watkins died in a car crash years later [attending his daughter’s out of state graduation] that my mother revealed such things to me.
Good topic, read & comments Erin.