Essay On Being A Master Teacher

Kaleen C. Polakoff
24 July 2009


ESSAY ON BEING A MASTER TEACHER


For just about as long as I can remember, I wanted to change the world. I first became aware of it in Kindergarten when I befriended a little boy with mental retardation. I thought that if I could be his friend, life would be better for him. Sadly, it did not turn out that way.
I had a fabulous English teacher in High School, Mrs. Andrus. I took Honors English in 10th grade and she had us memorize poetry. One day, a former student came to visit our class. He had been a prisoner of war in Vietnam for four years. He attributed his survival to her having him memorize poetry. He tried to remember the poetry every day that he was a prisoner of war. At that moment, I knew I wanted to change the world and save lives. I wanted to be a teacher.
I wanted to be an English teacher to be more exact, just like Mrs. Andrus. Mrs. Andrus encouraged me to have a few things published in our high school’s newspaper. Never mind that I had attended a small high school, I thought that I could write. My creative writing teacher in college proved me wrong. He told me in no uncertain terms that I was not a writer. I began to think I could write. I am not one to stand and argue a losing argument. I switched into Botany for a major that very day.
While finishing my degree at Brigham Young University, I decided to take a class on how to teach Seminary for my obligatory religion class. I was disappointed to find out that it was only for those that were majoring in secondary education with another major. The other disappointment was that I was female and the Church does not hire female teachers for Released Time Seminary unless they are older with no prospects for marriage or have all of their children raised and gone from their home. I was neither, but they let me stay anyway.
The idea of being a master teacher took hold in that religion class. A master teacher is one that follows the pattern of the Savior in their teaching. The pattern being someone that loves their students, relies on the promptings of the Holy Ghost, and finds ways and methods to inspire their students. It is a pattern of service and sacrifice.
After graduating from BYU, I took a year off and just worked. In the meantime, I received my patriarchal blessing and learned that I am blessed to teach words of wisdom. Originally, I thought that I would just teach in church. I had served as a Primary teacher since I was 16. Then, I was inspired to go back to school and become a teacher of science.
My mentor teacher, Hugh Baird, had a belief that all teachers should be master teachers and he inspired me to focus again on being a master teacher. He broadened my definition of a master teacher: A master teacher is someone who loves their students, cares for their needs, and finds ways to inspire them. A master teacher has discipline and inspires students to discipline. Discipline should bring our students to Christ, whether they believe in him or not. I studied methods of team building, project based learning, and simulations to inspire learning.
I taught school for one year in Texas, was married, and moved to Maryland. I have always felt that my place was in the home. I became a mother of six children and practiced what I had learned at home and at church. I was an at-home mother for 16 years before I had with a financial problem that I could not solve. After much prayer, fasting, and consulting with my bishop, I went back to work as a substitute teacher.
The day I accepted a position to be a mentor at Eagle’s Aerie Schools, they gave me a copy of Oliver DeMille’s Book, A Thomas Jefferson Education, and told that this would be my blueprint for education from then on. When I read A Thomas Jefferson Education, I knew the type of mentor/teacher described in the book was exactly what my mentor teacher at BYU had envisioned for me to become. Once again, my definition of a master teacher broadened. It now included being a mentor and using classics.
At the end of last school year, the new principal came to me with a charge to change my way of being. I needed to speak a little softer and not be so harsh with my students. At that moment, I knew that I had lost sight of some of what used to be my better qualities. In addition, I had lost sight of becoming a master teacher.
I will be working at new employment this summer and the philosophy is not like my old school. I have pondered how I will use this new information in teaching. Because of the book, The Choice, I have changed my way of being. I think I am a little softer and a little kinder than I was at the beginning of summer.
One of the ways to inspire students is to set an example. I have added to the definition of master teacher, someone who is true to their greatness. I know now what it takes to get a great education and by my example, I hope to inspire students to want a great education, whether the new school provides them with an opportunity or not. I will show them that the only education is self-education.
There are so many new things that I have learned that I want to share with my students. I am excited for a new adventure. Since I became a teacher and a mother, I have known that I need to continue with my education. I have taken my children on many adventures in learning and we continue to learn together. I am adding many books to my list for when I am finished with my Masters Degree and I will have time to read them.
My greatest work is in my home and the best place to practice being a master teacher is with my children. I no longer worry about changing the world for the better or whether by being a teacher I will save someone’s life. Through my education, I have already influenced my children. I am so proud of them because with all of their challenges, they are becoming great leaders. They have already shown me what they can do.