Inspirational Teacher

Sometimes in our life we meet a special person. A person who we can honestly say has had a great impact on us because they changed something deep within us.

They may have said or done something that really touched our soul.

We will probably never forget that person because we owe a little part of our identity, who we truly are, to them. Without them we might never have become the person we are today.

They may have been there for us when we were going through a bad experience.

They may have helped us to understand and learn better.

They have have motivated us to greater achievements.

Tell us about them below.

The best teacher I ever had was one called Caroyn Thomas. She taught English literature and language at South Tyneside College. She explained things in a manner that showed her enthusiasm for her subject, but she also made references to things that she had read and you hadn't in a manner that made you want to research further for yourself. She never lost her temper, but had such a rare quality (that I can't quite describe) that if you didn't share her enthusiasm you felt that you had let yourself down, not her. Homework that was submitted was always marked within a week and included ways of increasing your expression as well as what you had done right before where you could improve.

She made teaching look so easy that I decided that I could follow in her footsteps - and I did. As a boss, she expects the same level of dedication that she has demonstrated - she leads by example.

Ask anyone who she has taught and they will say that she's 'scary' because she expects so much of you. She really stretches and challenges you.

Lecturer and former student of Carolyn Thomas

I had a great teacher in high school for 3 history classes. It was in his class that I actually decided I wanted to be a teacher, although in elementary school. He was always teaching in a way that we had fun, and he had fun with it as well. I thought, "I want a career where I can encourage this kind of attitude toward learning and enjoy myself." We actually nominated him for the Disney Teacher of the Year our senior year (at the nudging of our AP English teacher) and he got a copy of all our essays at the end of the year. He left after my senior year for another school and I emailed him periodically throughout college, just checking in and keeping in touch. At one point, he had a really rough year and confided that he considered leaving the profession. I was shocked! I really wondered about my own career then because I was halfway through college and was following his example! What would happen to me? Well in the first few months of my first year of teaching, he found my new address and emailed me. He expressed his pride that I had ignored his rant about the teaching profession that one time and said that the years since that had gotten so much better for him. He warned that I would probably have those years and advised me to forget what he had said.

He said, "I seem to recall that I advised you to stay away from education in one email. I still can't believe that I said that (above all, to one of my most talented students). It wasn't because I thought you would be a bad teacher, it's just that I was having a really bad year. I actually considered leaving the profession for a while. I've always felt horrible about that email."

I think that human aspect made me admire him more. I know we're all going to have rough years and I think I'll always be able to email him and get an honest response to any of my problems.

tchinkids

My 7th grade math teacher was my inspiration... at least for that school year, I found math to not be so tough... i enjoyed going to my math class when I had her as my teacher... she would always say... if at first you don't succeed, try,try, try, again.

Anon

My current English teacher is pretty inspiring. She's relatively newly qualified too. She some how makes the subject really fun and incorporates games into almost every topic (Even Grammar!). Plus as i have two teachers for the subject i can compare what i've learnt from each and the amount i've learn from this teacher is like double what i've learnt from the older more experience teacher, who technically should be the better teacher.

Hell. We've been given an off the curriculum summer project to do over the six weeks holidays and i'm excited to be doing it?! If that isn't inspirational/brainwashing teaching, I don't know what is!

Anyway, I've been brainwashed into wanting to teach English by her.

Flashy

My maths teacher was very inspirational. We never "had fun", and worked every lesson, yet how she'd explain a problem to us and explain the solution; we were all like "WOW", and enjoyed the lesson.. She'd be between "you could have done better, work harder next time" and "You've done your best, well done"

Chernij

My music teacher is actully great

She has so much enthusism for the subject and it has really rubbed off on me. She's one of the main reasons why i want to do music at university. We work pretty hard in lessons but also have fun. We always have arguments/discussions about the music and try to get our point over (in a firendly way!), its really good and makes learning some of the tedius things fun. (To be fair you have to be there to get what i'm actully meaning!) It's like shes one of us, you sometimes forget that shes like 20 years older than you!!

rdu11

My year 6 teacher was amazing, I enjoyed that year so much. She managed to make so much of learning fun. We did loads of fun experiments and projects... I remember we made chairs out of newspaper and the team who made the most sit-on-able chair won chocolate or something. We also made electric buggies out of wood with little motors and we raced them...

She was very enthusiastic about art, which I loved. She helped me to understand tone and shading etc. (Even though I got a C at art GCSE!)

My current history teacher is very inspiring. He's enthusiastic, he gives us great feedback, he "makes history come alive" xD

Fran Katzenjammer

There were a few at my secondary school. My headteacher is a nun and though she is very religious and has her beliefs, she's never tried to force them onto anyone else. She believes very strongly in women's rights/women's empowerment (think that's the right word) and has created countless opportunities for her students. She gives everyone a chance (even the really badly-behaved kids who many people would just expel). To quite a few of us, she's been a real inspiration.

I also have to mention my Music teachers (3 of them). Not only are they incredibly talented musicians, but they are wonderful teachers, in that they tried so hard to engage and help everyone, and they were great at pastoral care. They really built up my self-confidence over the years.

I have so much respect for one of the Drama teachers in my school. She was a single mum for quite a while and though she's a crap teacher, she's amazing at putting on school productions. She puts her heart and soul into it, works all kinds of crazy hours staying after school most days for up to 12 weeks and still manages to take care of her daughter.

lonely goatherd

She is my biggest inspiration in the whole wide world, a fantastic teacher and a great friend. She isn't a 'normal' teacher, she really understands the kids and has this brilliant caring nature. She's the most selfless person I have ever met, she has been through so much recently, but does she let it show in her work or take it out on the kids? Anything but. No matter what has happened in her life she is always putting other people first. She is incredibily strong and if I were in her position I'm not sure I'd be able to be strong at all.

She helped me, probably without realising it, to think life is very precious and not to waste any minute of it. I don't usually admit this, but for the sake of research and not knowing anyone personally on here, I was sucidal in year 9. But then Itotally tried to turn my life around by following her example. And here I am now, wanting to live every minute and cannot wait to do loads of things.

I could go on for ages but in basics, that is it. She is my idol and I love her to pieces. Love her like a mother, and she has always treated me like a daughter and been there when my own mum hasn't.

lilangel890

Would you like to tell us all about her or him? What did they actually do to inspire you? Tell us anything that might be of interest to us. Thankyou. We believe all Inspirational Teachers deserve recognition and that is why we started this site.

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