Memorable Teachers

With schools starting, students and teachers will be meeting each other sometimes for the first time. Outside the home, these relationships influence us maybe even for the rest of our lives.

If we are lucky, our teacher teaches us a lot more than just educate, makes us want to be more than we thought we could be or deserved to be or prop us up during hard times.

In my case, Aden Field, my English teacher, did not really teach English. He came to our country school in Millington, Tenn., straight from graduating from Harvard University. He flew far above all the other teachers I had. Quirky, played Joan Baez records in class, let us write freely and one day handed me back one of those papers, leaned over and said softly, “You can write.” Those three words meant everything to me.

Ross Hays, you’ve probably talked to him as he helps you at Monticello Drugs, gave me an immediate answer when I asked him who his favorite teacher was and why. He said, “Kim Mistovich at Eastside High School in Covington because after my mom died she was always there for me.”

Coaches are favorites maybe because they usually don’t give grades, but they push and inspire and get us excited about competing, a valuable life lesson. Buzz Elizondo graduated from San Antonio, Texas high school, Luther Burbank. Coach Hunt was his favorite and why, “He noticed me and told me I was a good athlete.” Just a few words that he needed to hear.

Unfortunately, some students are not always so lucky to have that one special teacher or those special words. On the other hand, many of us did.

One student wrote the following letter to her teacher on the last day of school, “Thank you for working with me this year. God bless you! I love you. You are the best teacher in the world.”

Now Jasper County students and teachers have a great year!