[awtse]

My highschool English teacher, Mr. Friesen. He was patient, understanding, encouraging and instilled in our class a love for world literature.

[pseub]

The teacher that comes instrantly to mind is Mrs. Finch, my 6th grade teacher. She believed in developing our critical thinking facilities, and that we were capable of a great deal beyond the typical 6th grade curriculum. That year, we read Tolkein's "The Hobbit," Arthur C. Clarke's "Childhood's End" and many other books that interested and challenged us. She also provided my first exposure to what is now called "media literacy," and helpd us learn to question the motivation behind the message (especially when it came to commercials). She initiated various class projects which helped us learn in a hands-on way about how business and government function, which were fun and engaging, and taught us how to work in teams. She believed in us, in our intelligence and helped us to find our voice. She was very unorthodox for the time (1969), but I don't think there was ever another teacher that had the same kind of impact on me. For someone who had been raised to be a "good girl" and not to question what I was told, having an adult who encouraged me to question and think for myself planted the seeds of self-sufficiency that bloomed later. I also have her to thank for my enduring love of science fiction.

[minz]

I'd like to dedicate this post to the late Professor Dale Haywood from my undergrad school. As a foreign student in a foreign land, it was easy to be intimidated. However I quickly learned and appreciated that Professor Haywood was the icon of the campus and every semester would not be complete without attending his classes. One would be able to learn how to live life through his classes as he taught principles where one could use to apply to life. I will always remember to 'always stand out positively in life' and I have been striving to always do that since the day I graduated and came back home. I salute the man who was ever so passionate in promoting what was closest to him and was not afraid of sharing it with everyone.

May you rest in peace Professor.

[reon]

My dad was my best teacher. he taught me how to face life and he taught me that a little love and generosity goes a long way.

[trendyteacher]

When I entered his Freshman Biology classroom, I knew I was in for an amazing experience. Mr. Rumpolo, (pronounced just as it is spelled) had such a passion for science that it was almost addicting.I eventually took every class he taugh throughout my high school years. I anticipated how he would entertain us with his creative lessons and wild costumes. I loved the way that he actually took the time to learn about his student's interests and incorporate them into his lessons. Presently, I am a teacher and I try be as passionate as Mr. Rumpolo was in my own classroom.

[arkouneo]

Mrs. Langlois. She was my English teacher and helped me so much throughout high school. She introduced new books to me that I'd never discover on my own. A mentor, a teacher, almost a second mother. I still keep in contact with her even after graduation because she's that great.

[Katy1313]

Mrs. Jenamatis was my most infuential teacher for grades 9,10 and 11. She was an English teacher who was always there for me. She is the only teacher who cared enough to make sure that I graduated and encouraged me to write children's books. High school was a very rough road for me and because of her caring and compassion, I did manage to graduate.

[faitheve]

My mom is a teacher,she taught me how to love and care someone and don't want to be paid back.

[prettyfit]

mr spasic he's my chem teacher and he's too cute and funny. Hes actually about 70 but is still teaching because of his passion for education.

[allaboutnice]

Mrs Parr, my Biology teracher most influenced me for her dedication and belief in me.

[chessmont]

Sister Harriet, my Advanced Biology teacher in highschool. She was so excited about the subject matter, she made me love science, too, and I went on to a few different careers, in science and technology. Back in the early seventies, it was not as common for women to go into science. She encouraged us to do what we loved. In 1984, I became the first woman field service engineer ever for the particular company that hired me..

[fendigal]

Andrea Reed, my dance teacher in high school had a great influence on my life. It is not so much the tote bag that makes me want to write this, but her influence on me.
Many years ago, back in the 1980's, I went to a high school where there was a lot of temptation to go with the crowd. Drugs, alcohol, teenage pregnancy were all common occurances.
I had been a student of Andrea's since I was 12 and continued with her until I was 18. It was her example of grace and dedication that kept me out of trouble. Even though, I am now a physical therapist, I danced until I was 28, both ballet and musical theatre. I was an uncoordinated kid, I had asthma as a child in a day where rescue inhalers didn't exist and I had difficulty playing games like softball or volleyball due to my lack of hand eye coordination. When I played outside, I wheezed. However, I discovered that dancing was a way to exercise without these negative side effects. It was the first thing I could do and keep up with other kids my own age.
Dancing led to a like instead of dislike of exercise, I think I was the only kid in elementary school that dreaded recess. I started to do more and more and gradually developed an interest in physical therapy. I have now been a therapist for 20 years.
Dancing is a way of life not just a talent. Andrea was special in that she did not discourage kids, because they had the wrong body type. Everyone got to perform in recitals. She taught us that dancers need to stay healthy to perform, thus I stayed away from a lot of the negative things kids were doing at my high school.
I continue to let ballet be an influence in my life. Last year I actually performed again at age 43 in the Nutcracker in Act I at the Rock School. I was helping out, the school is all about the kids, but I still loved it. Dancing has also taught me to stay healthy. It has given me something to love and turn to even when I went through a divorce many years ago. It has given me an appreciation for the arts. To this day when I'm nervous, I turn on the ballet music and it calms me down.
I believe all kids should be given an opportunity to participate in something like this, whether it be music, sports, dance or anything else, I think that the acceptance I found there and the discipline I learned have benefited me in more ways than I can count. If more children had teachers like this, there would be less problems in the schools today. That's just my humble opinion.

[JNH14]

Mrs. Curran, my third grade teacher, gave me a genuine love for teaching. It must have worked because I've been teaching for 31 years now-I still love it and the kids make me laugh every day. They make you feel loved and special! By the way-I teach 3rd grade!

[seekingjans]

This is a story about my sisters middle school principal, Mr. Perone, who passed away 15 years ago.

We grew up in a part of New England where racism was so evident. We are from the Philippines and most of the kids were white and some were African Americans. There were no Asians where we lived and most of the people, adults and children alike, never even heard of the Philippines.

The first school we went to in Connecticut was a horrible experience for all of us. Every single day, kids would wait for us outside the school ready to beat us up, throw rocks at us and spit on us. The teachers and staff would watch and just turn the other direction and let this all happen. Even when my parents tried to intervene, they looked on them only as people with heavy accents and foreigners. Mind you, my father is an engineer and my mother an architect-- both American citizens, who speak and write better English than most Americans and fly the American flag diligently in front of their home.

When we moved to another small town in CT. the same thing was happening. This time I was in high school while my younger sisters were battling it out in middle school. One day these kids pushed my sister into the corner of the hall, punching her, and yelling out, "Chink, Chink, Chink."

A teacher brought her to the nurse's office and Mr. Perone was there waiting. After my sister told him what happened, he had the ENTIRE school, students and faculty, go to the auditorium. He put the enitre school day to a halt. There he started talking angrily at everyone about the evil of racism and he would not tolerate it in the school. The amazing thing about it was the kids really had no idea the gravity of what they were doing-- to them it was teasing of someone who looked different, but because Mr. Perone EDUCATED these kids to see this horrible wrong, they saw it for what it really was-- racism and hate.

Needless to say, from then on, both of my younger sisters never got teased about being Asian all the way till they graduated high school. That half hour he gave changed an entire school's mindset forever.

I didn't write this to enter the contest, but to share with you the story of one of the most important 30 minutes in my family's life. GOD bless you Mr. Perone!

[bondgirl_77]

Mr. Sveinson was without a doubt my most influential teacher. I was definitely a math nerd in school, but he was the one to get me on the path to be who I am today! He made me stop and question where I wanted to go and why...that was over 10 years ago and I am SO much better for it! Thank you Mr. Sveinson, for not letting me take the easy way out!!!