“The Unorthodox Behavior of Great Teachers”

The best teachers are known as unorthodox teachers. They do things differently than most teachers and don't always believe everything they are taught or told. They trust their instincts, which leads them to the results they desire (Liesveld, Miller, & Robinson, 2004, p.15).

The teacher that has left the most significant impact on my life is Ruth Stuckmayer. Her unorthodox behavior consisted of her always taking the extra step in building relationships with her students. She made me feel like an individual and not just another student in her class. I felt seen, heard, and loved. I knew Ruth wanted me to do well in her class, but I felt like the academic skills came second, as she was more concerned about the choices I was making and the person I was becoming. There were nights I was out at highschool parties where I had the chance to make many poor decisions but often refused due to the thought of disappointing her.

Mrs. Stuckmayer's classroom was a safe place for me to "hang out." I was always welcomed in her room as long as she wasn't teaching. There were many times when I would stop by just to be in her presence. I was a quiet teen (depending who you ask, my little sister doesn't count) and didn't have much to say, but just wanted to be seen. When I  was having a rough day or just needed a little extra support, I knew I could count on her room or her smile to help make the day better. In 11th grade, I struggled when one of my neighbors ended his own life. I was shocked, hurting, and didn't know what to do. I found myself inside her classroom before school hours which is when many teachers are rushing to get things ready for the day, but Ruth stopped and listened to me.

Ruth was proud of me and had faith in me when I didn't have any in myself. I remember coming to school my senior year and seeing something hanging on my locker. When I got closer, I found the newspaper clipping from the previous volleyball game with my name highlighted! If I remember correctly, my name was listed with (at most) 4 blocks, and one assist. Honestly, this was not something many star athletes would be proud of, but it was a huge accomplishment for me, and Mrs. Stuckmayer knew that and helped me celebrate! I remember wanting to hide my excitement because even though this was good for me, I felt like a loser compared to most. Ruth didn't care who did the best in that game, she cared about ME and how I did!

After digging into Don Clifton's Strengths Finder,  I would guess that two of Mrs. Stuckmayer's strengths are responsibility and positivity. She demonstrates a strong sense of ownership when it comes to her students' learning. She has also been generous with offering words of encouragement and finding the silver lining in all situations.

I spent much of my time wanting to please Mrs. Stuckmayer by doing the best work I could in her class and in our BPA organization. This commitment and desire to doing well helped me learn many skills from balancing a checkbook to making good decisions to being an excellent interviewer.  Mrs. Stuckmayer's influence not only paid off on my report card or by getting first place at the state BPA meet(And getting to go to New York City for Nationals) but by helping me become successful in my career as a teacher. Her "unorthodox" teaching style taught me the importance of relationships. Being that she took time for me outside of class, I am a much stronger learner, person, and TEACHER!

These experiences have impacted the way I interact with my students. My most important goal as a teacher is to have a strong authentic relationship with each child in my class. I want my students to enjoy learning and know that I enjoy them! I believe that this is essential for maximum learning to occur. Sometimes in order to build these relationships and create the joy for school my "unorthodox behaviors" come out.  This means you may walk into my classroom and hear me speaking in an accent I created or pretending I know how to dance. This means you may watch a math lesson turn into a storytelling time. This also means you may see me at a dance or ice-skating event or even watching a hockey game that I know nothing about, but if you do happen to see me, there is one thing I promise you, I will have a true genuine smile upon my face because I do care about each child in my class!

I once read a letter written to some students by a teacher explaining how even though the children are no longer in her class, the teacher will always be thinking of them in the years to come. Once a child is in a teacher's class, it is a special bond that lasts a lifetime.

My dad passed away almost two years ago, which was ten years after I graduated from high school. Ruth and I had very little contact in between, but guess who was at my dad's visitation... yes, Mrs. Stuckmayer! She is the definition of a  Great Teacher!

Liesveld, R., Miller, J. A., & Robison, J. (2005). Teach with your strengths: How great teachers inspire their students. New York: Gallup Press.