Welcome to the engage2learn Leading Learners blog series! We asked students across the state of Texas to interview an educator on their campus.
Hear what Kilgore ISD student Anushka has to say about her teacher, Coach Dean.
Teachers have an ability to help shape minds of the future.
It’s the teacher’s job to provide students with the skills needed to thrive through adulthood. They are the ones who are there each step of the way, to help find the path towards achievement and success. In spite of obstacles, teachers move forward each day to make a great impact in the world.
“It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge.” – Albert Einstein
Inspiration leads to the discovery of passion and goals. According to the survey My Voice Student Aspirations, 77 percent of students feel their teachers expect them to be successful. Sixty-five percent of students think their teacher is a positive role model, and 70 percent noted that their teachers think they can be successful.
This means that most teachers not only know, but believe that success is possible. This is a powerful thing that changes a student’s perspective on education and their future.
Most teachers not only know, but believe that success is possible. Click To TweetA role model is a person who inspires and encourages us to strive for greatness. They guide us to live out our fullest potential and see the best in ourselves. Often students look up to their teachers as mentors. These mentors help students find the best path for their future.
Education is important, but it doesn’t have to be boring. A great teacher stimulates student’s minds without resulting to one-way lectures. According to the My Voice Student Aspirations survey, 64 percent of students think learning is fun and 75 percent enjoy learning new things. The survey also notes, “In a day where we all want to reach our students in creative ways, it seems this group of students felt strongly that their teachers do a good job of this, noting that 72% of teachers present lessons in different ways.” Creating an engaging environment can help to motivate students to achieve the task at hand.
Creating an engaging environment can help to motivate students to achieve the task at hand. Click To TweetJackson Dean is a coach, biology, and forensics teacher at Kilgore High School. He graduated from University of Louisiana at Monroe with a Bachelor’s degree in Health and Human Performance, with a minor in Biology.
Coach Dean has been teaching for 25 years, with three of them being at Ouachita Parish Schools. He originally went to college for a degree in Agricultural Business, but changed his mind after discovering his passion for coaching.
He challenges himself by keeping high expectations for his students, setting goals for both himself as a teacher and for his students.