
Honoring Amazing Educators
Sit down and think back to when you were in school.
What comes to mind? Friends? Fads? What about a teacher? The educator who took the extra time and made the extra effort to connect with students and made an impact on you.
For me, the friends I made in school have long since been relegated to memory. They moved on with their lives as I did.
And, as anyone who knows me can attest, I’ve never been one for fads.
Teachers are another story.
I can recall several teachers who impacted me. Mrs. Rickey, and Mrs. Egberts — both at Richmond Elementary School. There were Mrs. Abrahamsen and Mr. Slyter at Lynch Wood Elementary School, along with Mr. Potter, who taught me how to play chess.
Centennial High School Senior Counselor Kay Miller trusted me to improve my grades when all indicators said otherwise.
Chuck Jepsen greeted me at freshman orientation and revealed that he not only knew my father, but also that my grandfather had given him his first teaching job. Small world.
John McDonald, who taught AP History, and Nick Karafotias, who taught International Politics and introduced me to political science.
And then there was Ellsworth Vierra who taught physics. I may not have been the best physics student, but I relished his class. Mr. Vierra taught with an enthusiasm for the subject that was unparalleled.
I think it’s safe to say that those teachers probably didn’t realize the impact they had on me any more than I was aware of the impact they had on me.
As you read through this year’s Amazing Educators section, I hope you’re reminded of an educator who inspired you.
Maybe you had a teacher like Breck Foster, who uses current events to educate her students about climate change.
Perhaps you had a band instructor like Dana Henson, who doesn’t just teach students music, but also the importance of being positive representatives of the community they live in.
Or it’s simply a passionate teacher like Mark Halpern, who works to open his students’ minds through literature.
“The best of the writers are prophets who see into the mystery of being,” Halpern said.
The same may be true of teachers themselves. The best educators see the mystery of being in their students and help them see it in themselves.
Being an educator in this day and age is a daunting task, and that’s precisely why we at Pamplin Media Group produce this product every year. We want to share these stories about exemplary educators and hopefully remind you of an educator who impacted you.
2023 AMAZING EDUCATORS
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