This story is written with the one thing that I believe is the key that unlocks the door to great teaching and inspired learning – that key is passion.
I would like to write about three teachers who not only inspired my learning but also influenced my life forever!
It was my first day at School – I was five years old and starting kindergarten. As I walked through the School gate – my heart pounding and my child mind full of anxious fears, it was Miss Brown, my Kindergarten teacher, who that day walked into my life and my heart. She smiled brightly, knelt down so that she could see my face, quietly told me that I was going to love school and that we were going to have so much fun together. She then gently took my hand and led me to the classroom where she introduced me to others in my class.
What made Miss Brown an Inspiring Teacher? Her obvious love for what she did best – teaching, and her absolute individual care of each of her students.
Miss Brown had the ability to make every child feel that he or she was “special”. She inspired confidence in the mind of a small child, she somehow turned our weaknesses into strengths and so our learning began and continued as she nurtured, guided, corrected, encouraged and entrusted us with the gifts she had to give – inspirational gifts that captured the mind of a child and that influenced the rest of our learning journey.
It was three years later when Mrs Harvey – Teacher of Grade 3 entered my life. She was very different in many ways to Miss Brown.
Mrs Harvey was older, quite strict – but there was something about her that quietened a room of noisy students the moment she entered. We were not afraid of her, but we did have a sort of reverent respect for her as she asked each of us a question relating to yesterday’s lesson. If we were unsure of the answer – Mrs Harvey always managed to make us feel that we had given her the perfect opportunity she needed to revise for the whole class, something that everyone may not have grasped yesterday.
Mrs Harvey was the one who encouraged us to be the best that we could be – she taught us the importance of taking pride in our work and rewarded each of us with a bright coloured dot – we were all treated the same.
I remember our first classroom open day, organised by Mrs Harvey where parents came to inspect our books – all parents looked at every child’s books so that if there was a child whose parent couldn’t come, they did not feel left out – that was the heart of Mrs Harvey.
I remember I was pigeon-toed and walked with my right foot turned in. It was Mrs Harvey who cared enough to take me aside at every break time, draw a chalk line on the cement in the playground and encouraged me to walk a straight line placing one foot carefully each side of the chalk line as I walked. Little by little under the encouraging eyes of Mrs Harvey I began to walk and run as any other child. As a child I didn’t fully understand – but as an adult I know that it is Teachers like Mrs Harvey who give of themselves to make a difference – Teachers like Mrs Harvey who inspire us so much that we want to keep learning forever.
It was then four years later when Mr Gormley – English Master at High School, entered my life. He inspired me so much that English became my favourite subject. Mr Gormley, even though older and seemingly staid, somehow managed to make what might have been the most ordinary topic come alive through the gift he gave each one of us – the freedom to be creative. With his guidance we directed our own learning, we participated in team debates around topics we ourselves selected. We presented drama plays to the rest of the School, we wrote creative stories which were read out to the class by Mr Gormley himself, in such a way that everyone’s writing was the best.
Mr Gormley was able to intrigue our inquisitive minds so that we wanted to learn more. It was Mr Gormley, who with passion for the subject he taught, inspired us to be the best we could be in both the written and oral use of the English language.
It is inspirational teachers like Mr Gormley who have the ability to help us climb to heights in learning that we never dreamt of reaching. I will be forever grateful.
Please share your inspirational stories of Teachers who have made a difference in your life.
After a horror year at my first high school, we moved to Queensland and I was lucky enough to join a brand new high school midway through inaugural year with only year 8’s in the school. (we graduated 5 years later as the first year 12’s to complete the journey) Because it was new, there were a number of first year or second year graduates taking on full time roles. One of these was Mrs Dale – my Japanese teacher. She was the only teacher to create imaginative, hands-on FUN lessons, but the best part was her care for not… Read more »
I have been lucky enough to have a small army of teachers who made a difference in my life. Now as I reflect on them I can see the common element was that they all encouraged, embraced, and challenged my creativity. In Year 3 Mr. Derricott encouraged me to join Mrs. Sattler’s choir. In Year 6 Mrs. French continued to encourage and challenge my vocal range while introducing the recorder ensemble where I learned to play a range of instruments and music. In high school, Mrs. Babington was my drama teacher who turned constructive criticism into an art form that… Read more »
I had just moved house, started a new school and was in Grade 1. Everything was unfamiliar to me, my neighbourhood, my school, my classmates. Looking back now it was such a large and overwhelming change for a person of my age at the time. It was the school principal Mrs Maria, who I distinctly remember. She was caring and kind, showing myself and my sister around the school and truly showing interest in how we were adjusting. Throughout my schooling she always took the time to make sure we enjoyed our learning and was always there for our support.
It was my first day of year three when I was introduced to Mrs Travers, the teacher who changed my life forever and inspired me to enter the realm of education. Mrs Travers was a kind, gentle and nurturing teacher who supported her students in every which way. She taught that learning was not limited to what was read in text books, but could also be understood through observation, touch and even mistakes. Rather than criticising students when they performed poorly, Mrs Travers would work with them after class, continuing until we understood where we went wrong. Through this approach… Read more »
My kindergarten teacher was the most memorable, she really met every student for whom they were not what was expected. She was gracious and courteous and because of these qualities students wanted to present their best in way of behaviour and ability. She was a very awesome teacher!!!
When I was in high school (I must have been around 13), my class had a cluster of teachers that worked together to produce their own materials to cover biology and geology. The way each topic was covered was as follows: i) A leaflet was given to us where a question was posed in relation to some information about the given topic. (The one I remember best was one about how giraffes got their long necks and Lamarck’s and Darwin’s respective theories of evolution.) ii) We had to ponder the question individually first. iii) We were then set in groups… Read more »
My most recent memorable teacher was Liz O’Donnell. She gave real life examples of the application of knowledge and there were no “dumb” questions”.
Students were invited to share their perspectives and learning was made relevant in a variety of contexts for understanding. All students were offered access to the teacher to clarify assessment events or for other questions. This made the assessment events less daunting.
My most memorable teacher was my Mental Health Nursing lecturer at the University of Surrey in England, Mr. Mark Rudd. I got into mental health nursing with little knowledge of the various mental illnesses and an understanding highly influenced by my traditional background that did not recognise some mental conditions. Mr. Rudd explained concepts in a way that relates to everyday living that the subject began to make sense and cause a shift in my perception of mental illness. The examples he used were issues and situations that resonated with day to day living. I started associating his teachings with… Read more »
In the immortal words of Dr Seuss – “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” My kindergarten librarian was a lady by the name of Mrs Kracknell. We had a special little song, inspired by Mrs Cracknell’s less endearing characteristics – cranky Kracknell KKK, cranky Kracknell KKK. Fortunately, Mrs Kracknell retired when I started year 1 and Ms Martin arrived. Ms Martin was the epitome of the perfect librarian. Ms Martin introduced year 1 to the enduring magic of reading and the immortal words of Dr… Read more »
Thank you for sharing. I will start using this catch phrase with my children, “You can find magic wherever you look. Sit back and relax, all you need is a book.” I might be able to encourage them to read more.
My high school yearmaster oversaw us for 6 years. He also taught my geography class for a couple of years. He was passionate about doing his best to improve his students. Sometimes hard but always fair.
Throughout high school, I never heard a single student say a bad word about him. Even the students he was required to punish or discipline would respect him.
Geoff your high school yearmaster must have been an outstanding teacher. For him to be noticed by students that he was passionate about improving students.
At the age of 17, I spent 12 months in Kobe, Japan, as an exchange student. I was thrown into the deep end of the pool, with no Japanese language skills and a big dose of culture shock. Mrs Mariko Hayashi, one of the English Department’s teachers, came to my rescue, volunteering her out-of-class time to take me under her wing and provide me with intensive Japanese language tuition. \Mrs Hayashi became my portal in understanding the confusion between the local dialect of the Kansai region and standard Japanese. She managed to weave in lessons of history, culture and even… Read more »
I have been lucky enough to have many great teachers over my life so far but my most influential teacher was my Year 9 Business Studies teacher. She was not only clever and passionate, she treated everyone in her class as if they were her own children and built our confidence to ensure that each and every one of us succeeded. It was the only class where every student wanted to attend and put 100% of effort into because we wanted to make her proud.
I have been privileged to have had many great teachers/Instructors over the years from school all the way through to my professional development and career training. Enthusiasm and Knowledge have always been present in my experiences but the instructors and teachers that stood out have had the ability to connect with the trainee/student, create a safe environment where learning and mistakes are “ok” and part of the process. they have also been able to provide different views and techniques in their instruction to cater for different peoples learning styles, strengths and weaknesses. They have been approachable and have the philosophy… Read more »
One of my earliest and most memorable teachers was my dance teacher Miss Julie. She always showed energy and excitement for the new things we would learn, made learning fun, demonstrated patience, praised each student and commended us in front of our parents about things we had each done well. It created a love in me for learning and the arts, knowing that I could do well at anything if I put my mind to it and practiced.
When it comes to teachers, my most memorable one was back in high school during year 11. His introduced to us as Mr Kilde, however as time goes by we addressed him by his first name, David. This was also the reason why it was memorable, as he has the ability to ‘connect’ to each one of us and build a friendship, rather than a strict student-teacher relationship. When I train someone in my workplace, my training method was inspired by David, as I set to position myself as a friend rather than a trainer. I found this method to… Read more »
I truly believe that teachers with both passion and enthusiasm inspire students. They get students interested and even excited about what they are learning. Teachers that have left the greatest impression on me, are those who have demonstrated both passion and enthusiasm about the subjects they were teaching and who have had a zest for life itself. A teacher that always comes to mind, is my TAFE teacher. When the class was learning anatomy, she told us to buy a secondhand Barbie doll and using a marker, draw all the muscles on the body of the doll from memory. This… Read more »
I consider myself extremely lucky to have had the benefit of studying under a number of inspirational teachers during my life. Looking back, a common theme between them has been their absolute passion for their subject, as well as the ability to really connect with their students.
Whilst having a thorough understanding and knowledge of a subject is without question an important aspect of teaching, it is the ability to transmit their knowledge and passion to their students that really differentiates a subject matter expert and an inspirational teacher.
Passion! The key to anything you wish to succeed at in life. I personally cannot pin point a teacher in my academic career whom influenced or inspired me in any way however I am very fortunate to have crossed paths with a manager at my old work place named Bron. I was 18/19 at the time and knew everything that the world had to offer, up until this point in time I don’t believe I ever took the time to respect another persons opinion on a subject I was educated in. Meeting Bron was a pivotal point in my career… Read more »
My most influential teacher was my year coordinator in year 12. She was the teacher who pulled me aside before my Air Force interview process, as well as my airline Cadetship interview, for providing me with advice and tips for my preparation. She was in my eyes not just a teacher who taught me maths, she was also there to understand that what is required to make a successful person in the society, to think outside just the school and academic environment, to be ready for the outside world.
I have been fortunate to have had many great teachers in my academic life. They had guided me and equipped me with the knowledge required for me to be a good contribution to society. But if i have to name the teachers that made a difference in my life, it would have to be my parents. I learn honesty, integrity and the meaning of working hard to achieve your goals from them. I am the person that i am today because of them. They are the biggest influence in my life.
Although having many great teachers …some of the most impressionable have not been teachers at all. That is …not in the qualifications department. A great scout leader , an inspirational school rugby coach , a supportive squash team mate , my wife and my children, renown influencers ( Brendon Burchard/Simon Senik), a student at my school …have all been teachers in their own manner. I have learned from each and to ‘sharpen my personal skills saw’ – whether it be ‘life’s lessons’ , communications/ social skills , or professional development. It’s the sum of these ‘teachers’ that make a difference.
In primary school I was lucky to have Mrs Gray as my 3rd, 5th and 6th class teacher. It seemed like she could do anything – she lead us in singing along with the ABC School broadcasts, she taught us what seemed to be amazing arts & crafts projects and she was the sportiest teacher in the school – leading us in athletics, softball, vaulting and gymnastics plus she coached the girls netball and school swimming teams. She inspired us all to do our best. In high school, my sister had a Maths teacher – Miss Horley and I eventually… Read more »
Over the years i have experienced many different styles of teaching but the teachers who resonate most are those that actually care about how the person learning is coping with the takeup of new skills and knowledge.
Interestingly, the teacher who inspired me the most was one who told me I was only achieving good results because I was able to rote learn. Whether this was an intentional strategy or not, I made it my goal to understand the topic the best I could which I was studying.
I found it very scattered throughout my schooling finding a teacher that really resonated with me and my learning. Until my first day of Year 5 in a small country town school. Mr Felser was nothing like we had ever seen. He came from ‘the big smoke’ and brought life to the whole class of 9 year olds. He showed me that i could think outside the box and learn in so many different ways. As i train now i find myself going back to his lessons and how he carefully taught each child differently and tailored their learning to… Read more »
My schooling was very scattered, in the way that we moved a lot changing farms and states. I found this very difficult to be settled but my fifth grade teacher Mrs Floyd was such a calming influence for me. I had just moved states and this would make it my third primary school. (You would think that meeting new people and settling in would have been easy by now, but it wasn’t). Mrs Floyd was this little elderly lady that could when needed have a very big voice to compete with the number of noisy students and the large space… Read more »
My 3 were, Number 1 My Prep teacher, we had just moved to Australia and I couldn’t speak a word of English- she told my parents not to speak English at home as I would pick it up at school, which I did. She was so patient with me and I loved going to school because of how she taught and how she welcomed all of our class to the beginning of our school lives. Number 2 My Math’s tutor- In high school I was not very good at Math’s and kept failing, we had a family friend who was… Read more »
I sincerely do not have great memories of school and school teachers as I have always founded education programs being carried on in a quite rigid way with very little space left to interpretation, discussion and sharing of opinions. I should admit I am talking of a very long time ago, where things were fairly different than present days and I am also referring to a very different country. However, I think I can confidently named three teachers that changed my approach to school, proving that education is indeed about enriching our understanding providing us with elements to question ourselves… Read more »
The first that comes to mind for me was my year 11 & 12 biology teacher, Mrs Filby. She was small in stature but yet was able to command our respect. This was achieved without any form of threatening nature but rather by showing students the same respect she expected from us. Her teaching methods made even the most complex concepts easy to understand. And if any of the class were unsure of the lesson material, no one was afraid or ashamed to ask if Mrs Filby could go over it again and she was always more than happy to… Read more »
I have had a number of teachers over the years. Some have been inspirational and some not so inspirational. There are a few who I idolised as a young child and wanted to be ‘just like them’ when I grew up. My daughter started school a few years ago and we had the privilege of the most amazing Kindergarten teacher. I think she set the standard of what is expected from my daughter for the rest of her schooling years. She was the kindest soul but had high standards. Her ability to encourage children, maintain their confidence whilst also getting… Read more »
I don’t recall many of my teachers being particularly interested in my progress. I enjoyed school, was a tad naughty and very sporty. I do have one good memory of my grade 6 sports teacher, Mr. Patterson, who inspired me to ignore the mean comments from the boys who I played basketball and footy with. In the late ’70s, girls weren’t allowed to officially play footy once you were over 11 but I loved it and Mr. Patterson let me play during lunchtimes. He encouraged me to start basketball training after school and I went on to play State and… Read more »
I continuously strive to never be the teachers I encountered in my formative years …moving from Melbourne to Perth in the 60’s when I was in Grade 3 was pretty tough – I was from the ‘Eastern States’ (still get reminded to this day by Perth friends and relatives) , I didn’t write correctly, I was placed I the wrong year level, I didn’t know phonics and much to their horror I didn’t know anything about the explorer William Dampier or the Ord River irrigation scheme! These teachers taught me resilience, courage and I developed a love of learning from… Read more »
I too have several teachers that have inspired me throughout my life.
Through primary and high school i had a few teachers who took the time to assist me where i was struggling and allowed me to flourish. I also had a few teachers due my university studies that inspired me to never be the type of teacher they were. I will always strive to allow my students to flourish in a supportive atmosphere where they feel confident any question is a valid one.
My grade 5 teacher was an old Irishman, Mr. Finnegan who had many sayings and little quips to encourage us to learn. He spotted my love of the English language and poetry early on and encouraged it whole heartedly so much that I graduated dux of my year and I am forever grateful for that as it has influenced and guided me my whole life. I cant necessarily remember any others until my son encountered a teacher in high school called Mr Nolan. My son was a somewhat gifted but lazy student. Under the guidance of this teacher, all that… Read more »
I have had teachers who not so much inspired me but were favourites for one reason or another. Mrs H was one of those. She was tough, hard and uncompromising but she was fair and loved her students.
Having been educated in the Catholic system throughout my school years, one of the most influential teachers I had was a woman called Sister Maree. For a nun she was young! Her outlook on life and education was one of inspiration. She taught us, as young women, that we could do and be anything we set our minds to. She encouraged us to question not just to accept. Her enthusiasm for knowledge still stays with me. Several years after I completed high school she relocated to the Northern Territory to teach indigenous children. I have not doubt she inspired another… Read more »
I grew up in a country town and went to primary school and high school there. I have great memories of a lot of teachers at both schools. I moved to a new school for Year 2 and my teacher was Miss Taylor. She was a young teacher, and such a lovely person who cared so much about her students and their curious minds. She encouraged me to make friends as I was new, and was really kind. I had some strong male teacher figures in primary school who were very strict but one particularly stood out because he was… Read more »
I have wonderful memories of many of my teachers throughout my early years but for me my high school biology teacher sticks out. The enthusiasm and positivity that came from her was fantastic and along with subject specific knowledge I often remember fondly many life lesson that she also taught me. Particularly that it is okay to fail, that we only learn from trying and it is not the outcome that matters the most it is the process and what we learn from that which is the most important.
In primary school, my main teacher was a wonderful, young male graduate. We were his first real job and he brought so much joy and excitement to class every day. He encouraged my writing, at only 10 or 11 years old, I wrote a play instead of an essay around the Nordic mythology. Instead of pointing out that I had strayed far from the assignment given, he embraced it and turned my play into production. That year my class acted my play for the whole entire school, parents and personnel at the end of year show. He gave me the… Read more »
I encountered a wonderful teacher name Susan a few years ago while studying Horticulture. She had the great ability of connecting with people from all walks of life, encouraging their input and engagement and bringing out their best. For me personally she assisted with the decision to go on to further study in environmental science, gaining a higher qualification. I am eternally grateful. I have encountered many other great teachers like Susan and the common theme in their teaching styles was passion for their subject matter and genuine interest in each student’s learning and well being. My experience and many… Read more »
I had a lecturer in a project management elective who was the most impressive educator. She was the head of school and by luck I was scheduled into her tutorials late Monday nights. I remember getting a seat was almost impossible as attendance despite the time slot was always almost at capacity. She would engage the entire room, and started each lesson with a story of current real world situations that had relevance and correlation to each of our professional careers. She would then impart a wisdom of the reality of workplace politics and so would start the most dynamic… Read more »
In high school I had a maths teacher called Mr Burnett. Because my sister had been put in to the accellerated stream . . . so was I, but i really should not have been. I worked hard to keep up with the other girls – but it was not easy. Then came Mr Burnett – who on our first day lectured us that “girls can do anything”, and that has stayed with me forever. Mr Burnett pushed us hard – but we had a lot of fun along the way, which made it manageable. But he was also available… Read more »
What a great teacher Liz. I truly believe that it’s good to provide students with challenge (within reason). Many people think that teachers shouldn’t push students. I don’t agree because when you push a student and then they achieve more than they thought they could do, this gives them self-esteem and builds their resilience. Of course, it’s a fine line. You must never push a student past their actual potential.
By the sound of it Liz, your Mr Burnett knew just how hard to push, and how to provide honest acknowledgement and encouragement.
I have distinct memories of two high-school teachers who profoundly influenced my life. The first of these was a relief teacher named Mr Smith, who came to us when our regular science teacher took an extended absence due to poor health. Mr Smith was what could only be described as a fundamentalist Christian. I have no idea what gave him the idea to pursue a career in teaching science when the subject matter was so obviously at odds with his world view, but pursue it he did, much to the surprise (and possibly the detriment) of his students. His ideas… Read more »
Inspirational Teachers. I’ve been lucky to study in several academic and practical areas and as someone that studied outdoor education as an undergrad, it’s the teachers that demonstrated a mastery of their craft that I respected the most, and that I still remember most. Dan H is a former US Marine Corps Scout Sniper that wrote the USMC field manual on high angle sniping. He is a quietly spoken, consummate professional with a unique ability to explain complex trigonometry in the classroom, while also correcting shooting technique errors in the field. Kevin G is a helicopter instructor who had me… Read more »
WOW Adam what great stories, now to see if we can get you to that standard.
Teachers who have inspired me….. My son Harper has been so blessed in the past two years as his teachers for 2019 and 2020 have been amazing people dedicated to the role they play in the lives of these young people. Harper’s teacher this year is a young lady, Miss W. She is a very energetic, intelligent and dedicated person. She goes out of her way to memorise every persons name and further details upon first meeting them, she uses her interests in dance and drama to connect with her students and she empowers them to take responsibility of their… Read more »
Marcus that is a fabulous story and from the way you are getting into your course, I feel certain you too will be a wonderful teacher
As an INFP child I always felt like an alien in my very large family, as the square peg in the round hole I realised at a young age to either try to fit or just be happy with who I am. Coming from a strong matriarchal family I was able to appreciate that as a women I can choose to be as accomplished as I want to be. This opened the door to gain as much knowledge as I could. So I enjoyed school. I viewed every day as a new experience and the School teachers that inspired me… Read more »
So very many teachers have influenced my life in different ways. They all had a passion for what they taught. They also had compassion, patience, and kindness towards those they were teaching. They inspired an attitude of respect towards the teacher, the learning space and fellow students. This inspiration came from their own respect for these things. They were sometimes hard as a thunderbolt and sometimes soft as a rose. It is not easy to choose only three though if I think of primary school teachers it is Mrs. Brown and Mr. Carlton who come to mind. Both of them… Read more »
Yes Micah. Where you use the word “compassion” I would replace it with “empathy”.
Great to know you are inspired to follow in their footsteps. My belief is that the best trainers are those who are inspired to help others to learn and grow.
I’ve always been inspired by example in action, not just masterful delivery. Example that’s fueled by love and compassion. A person who loves what he/she teaches, and walks the talk — one who perfectly embodies all that they teach. Moses said “Preach always, sometimes even using words”. Gandhi said “Be the change you want to see in the world!” My main inspiration was a teacher whom I never had the chance to personally meet, yet have been able to read thousands of pages of his written wisdom, as well as a myriad of biographies by his intimate students and followers.… Read more »
Michael, it’s clear from your comment how dedicated you are.
Teachers don’t have to be people you have interacted with personally.
They can be people who set an example for life.
We should always keep learning.
Sandy
Although I just turned 40 this year, I can vividly remember Miss Hill from early in my primary school days as one of kindest, warm and endearing woman I have ever met. (She also had the longest hair I have still ever seen to this day, which she would lovingly plait into two endearing pigtails). Looking back I can see that she naturally modelled empathy and unconditional positive regard well before they were counselling-psychology buzz words! Everyone was treated equally with care and respect, and encouraged to apply their own strengths and support others with their weaknesses. She created many… Read more »
This story was a fantastic reflection on my own schooling. It brought back great memories of the fantastic and rather unique early education experience I was lucky enough to experience. Growing up in a rural area, I attended the local small school for my infants and primary school learning. I was fortunate enough to have the same classroom and the same teacher for each and every year. In my year group there were only 2 other students. Our small community was like family, there was no school bus and morning and afternoons were spent playing in the playground whilst our… Read more »