Article: My Favorite Teacher

I separated from the United States Air Force on April 30, 1983, and began college classes at the College of Saint Mary in Omaha, Nebraska, that summer of 1983. I pursued my nursing degree with vengeance, completing it in grand style with the graduating class of May 1986 along with a multitude of friends and fellow students. Of all my college and university professors in the forthcoming years, Dr. Joan Cook-Zimmern had the most profound effect upon me and she provided me with the stimulus to pursue further education beyond what the College of St. Mary could provide. Dr. Cook-Zimmern taught several classes among which was the introduction to sociology class. In spite of teaching the same classes year in and year out, she infused life into each class she was responsible for, never seemingly growing tired of her subject matter or creating a sense of doldrums in her students fulfilling their basic requirements in their core curriculum. Although I excelled in her class, yet beyond claiming an “A” in her class, she taught all of us students (and especially me) to think on our own two feet. One day after class she pulled me aside and divulged that she considered me one of her most “unusual” students who apparently thought for herself and projected a certain sort of fortitude and chutzpah towards walking a different road towards success. In my younger years I don’t believe that being “unusual” would have been so much of an attribute and, even then, having been singled out by my professor I’m not absolutely sure whether I viewed her perspective of me as wholly complimentary yet as the years went by I remained haunted by her words. As I aged and gained a wider variety of life’s experiences and wisdom, I realized that “unusual” takes on an array of meanings and conjectures which can be interpreted in diverse ways. After completing my nursing education and sitting for state boards to get my licensure, I moved southward to Texas where I decided to add an additional degree in anthropology to my resume’ as that particular field interested me far more than nursing ever did. I am exceedingly thankful to Professor Cook-Zimmern for instilling in me the ability to see myself far beyond just the appendage of what other people’s perception of me is and to her teachings of striving to become my own person for she motivated me far beyond any other instructor to follow my dreams and express my opinions in a realistic, concise manner. Hooray to Professor Cook-Zimmern for I owe her a great deal in establishing the solid foundation of whom I am and for the individual whom I strive to become in the years ahead. A mere “Thank You” to Dr. Cook-Zimmern doesn’t seem quite adequate to such a learned professional and I am eternally grateful for her expertise and perception of people along with her numerous years of instruction at the college level.

My favorite teacher was my second grade instructor, Mrs. Engle. Mrs. Engle was only at Jefferson Elementary School for a year. Her husband was stationed oversees in the middle of the Vietnam War, and was transferred to another base the next school year. I was a small second grader that enjoyed school, however I had no idea that I was working below grade level. I couldn't see a book or the chalkboard without it being only a few inches from my face. Mrs. Engle alerted my parents, and I got glasses within days. Wow, things were quite different from what I thought. I quickly caught up with my peers and was once again near the top of my class. I never knew that I was performing tasks that were below grade level until I was in my late twenties when I was reading my old report cards. Mrs. Engle never let me or any of my classmates know, that they were not the most intelligent second grader in Redondo Beach, CA. She praised us, and we knew we were all going to do something great. When I began my career as a teacher, those kids who needed something extra, the students the other teachers did not want in their classes, were the very students I asked to have in my classes. I had learned a very important lesson from Mrs. Engle, all children can learn, and those who are at risk for failure, need some extra time and opportunity with lots of praise for the smallest of accomplishments. I have followed that path for the last twenty four years. Today, I work with the most at risk girls in the state of Texas. I am the principal for the Texas Youth Commission. Our school has over 150 students all of whom have committed a felony. Everyday I remember, Mrs. Engle telling us that we were smart and capable of great things. These sentiments are expressed to my students as well. Many students while in what we call "the free" were called into the principal's office, they knew they were in lots of trouble. I make it a practice to call our students in to my office to celebrate. Yesterday, one of our eighth graders passed her math final. I was so happy for her, we both became teary eyed. She had never been praised for an academic accompllishment. This coming week, she starts high school, and while she is a bit nervous, she knows that my staff and I will be cheering. Thank you, Mrs. Engle for teaching me that no matter how poor or well we do in school, each of us are smart and capable. God bless you.