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educatorof year the
Kathy Nelson
LANGUAGE ARTS ⋆ ARROWHEAD UNION HIGH
by Adam Melka, Pewaukee, WI
Over the course of my 12 years of school, I have had many teachers – hard
teachers, funny teachers, and some who were out of their minds. The one
who has had the greatest influence on me is Mrs. Nelson. She is funny,
has great energy, and loves teaching. She shows devotion to her students and will
go out of her way to help them when they are struggling. She is, by far, one of the
best teachers I have ever had.
On September 2, 2005, I underwent emergency brain surgery and spent six
weeks in the hospital. This was a really bad time in my life. I was close to dying
and the outcome of my recovery was unknown. When
After my brain
injury, she
helped me
catch up
Detention, detention, write-up, suspension.
That was the behavioral pattern I had followed,
undeterred, from kindergarten to
seventh grade – that is, until I met my match. I was
never one to go looking for trouble (okay, maybe once
or twice), but somehow, trouble and I always found
ourselves entangled, as Conrad Middle School’s Dean
of Discipline quickly discovered.
“It’s a brand-new year at a brand-new
school. The whole ‘teacher doesn’t like
me’ excuse won’t work here, Maurice,”
my mother said before my first day at
Conrad. Deep inside, I knew she was
right. That excuse wouldn’t fly anymore.
So it was time to come up with a new one.
It wasn’t even a full week into the school year when
I was sent out of class for arguing with another student
over something I had probably instigated. “Take this
and report to the dean’s office,” my teacher barked as
she handed me the behavior referral I had become all
too familiar with in years past. Since I didn’t know
where the dean’s office was (and didn’t care to find
Teen Ink • APRIL ’09
Jesse Wakeman
STUDENT ADVISOR ⋆ CONRAD MIDDLE SCHOOL
by Maurice Gattis, Wilmington, DE
I came back to school after my brain injury, Mrs. Nelson
helped me catch up on assignments for all of my
classes. At first, I was forgetful about assignments and
couldn’t remember the material I learned. She showed,
most importantly, great patience with me.
Mrs. Nelson has been teaching for a long time and is
one of the most experienced teachers at Arrowhead
Union High School. She is respected by all the faculty
and is a mentor for teachers just starting their careers.
Mrs. Nelson is so easy to talk to and is a great listener. When students go to her
for help, she listens to what they have to say and puts all of her effort into helping
them. She treats all her students like they are her children, which is nice because
that shows she’s passionate about giving them the best education possible.
Mrs. Nelson is one of the coolest teachers ever. She has touched my life as she
has so many others’. I don’t think she will ever know how truly grateful I am. She
is simply the best teacher I have ever had. ✎
Nominate your favorite junior and senior
high school educators:
Online: www.TeenInk.com
Mail to: Educator of the Year • Box 30 • Newton, MA 02461
Email to: Educator@TeenInk.com
Be sure to include your teacher’s first and last name.
28
of Educator theYear
Contest
Last month to nominate a
special educator!
I was afraid
to disappoint
him
Deadline:
May 1
out), I decided this was the perfect opportunity to tour
the building. After a few minutes, I rounded a corner
and ran into a tall guy in a suit and a funny haircut.
“Are you Maurice? Follow me,” he said, before I
could even reply. We must have passed 50 classrooms
full of enthusiastic, well-behaved students on the way
to his office. Once there, we both took a seat, and he
stared at me for a full two minutes. “Is this
your idea of a good first impression?” he
asked, in a way that demanded a response
but almost made me afraid to answer.
“Uh … not really,” I mumbled. From
what I remember, Mr. Wakeman lectured
me for 45 minutes. All the while I stared at
his haircut. Upon hearing the word suspension
my attention snapped back and I began to sweat
(tough guys don’t get scared, I think the thermostat
was busted). “Huh?!” I squealed (puberty sucks).
“The code of conduct states that roaming the halls
constitutes being in an unauthorized area. That’s a
three-day vacation,” he said. By the books – that is
Mr. Wakeman. That visit was my first, but it certainly
Tim Kipp
SOCIAL STUDIES ⋆ BRATTLEBORO UNION HIGH
by Maya von Wodtke, Guilford, VT
He sits in the back of the room, hands interlaced
over his stomach, feet propped
up on the antique desk. Although he
appears relaxed, his pleased expression and
enthusiastic nods as he observes our seminar indicate
anything but inattentiveness. Like an old,
wise owl he watches us discuss, observing our
thought processes through the steel-rimmed
glasses perched on his freckled nose. A genuine
smile reveals his teeth, which contrast with the
silvery beard that adorns his jolly face. The walls
are plastered with posters, photos, bumper stickers,
newspaper clippings, buttons, banners, and
figurines. I could stare at this sea
for hours and still find something
new. On this particular afternoon,
I find myself repeatedly glancing
at a banner that reads, “Knowledge
is not enough.”
An excerpt from Paul
Hawken’s Blessed Unrest adorns
my binder, illegible black markings
filling every inch of the
margin. “And although we may not recognize it,
we are part of the biggest social movement on
earth,” I assert. “According to Hawken, change
comes from the bottom up, and that’s what this
movement is.” I turn to make eye contact with
Tim Kipp, looking for feedback, approval or
disagreement. But his knowing smile conveys a
certain stubbornness; this is our discussion.
After the bell, Mr. Kipp stands in the doorway,
his weathered briefcase reflecting his character
– the leather tearing at the seams, knowledge
ready to pour out the sides. Students scurry,
borrowing markers and tape, and seeking his
advice.
Even after he leaves, Room 132 is still
vibrant with a palpable sense of community.
Fifteen teenagers arrange chairs in a lopsided
circle, each one’s eccentricity adding to the
“hippie” appearance of this group of activists.
wouldn’t be my last. I’d be lying if I told you I knew
how many times I sat in his office awaiting my punishment,
just like I’d be lying if I told you that he
was my favorite guy for my first two years at Conrad.
But by the time eighth grade rolled around, I
had shaped up considerably and grown to like Mr.
Wakeman. Eventually I feared getting in trouble not
because of the repercussions but because I was
afraid to disappoint him.
Sadly, it is only in retrospect that I realize what a
powerful impression he made on me. He was strict,
but I knew he genuinely wanted to see me succeed. He
has this sarcastic humor that I couldn’t help but laugh
at, but he knew when it was business time and consequently
so did his students. The thought never crossed
my mind that someone who had cost me weeks upon
weeks of punishment and extra chores would be a person
whom I’d admire so much just a few years later.
I honestly believe that because of Mr. Wakeman
and his firm but concerned tactics, I am undoubtedly
a better student today. But above that, I am a better
person, which I still thank him for to this day. ✎
The knowledge
that Tim Kipp
bestows transforms
into action
Clad in thrift-store flannels and jewelry from
faraway places, they brainstorm ways to share
their ideas with the world. Like a budding tulip,
the knowledge that Tim Kipp has bestowed
transforms into action. They are aware; they are
empowered.
One ever-present question hangs in the air: how
can we use our voices to create change? Dancing
around it like leaves on a fall morning, plans
of fundraisers, presentations, bills in the state
legislature, and Friday night bake sales swirl.
Each day this group takes small steps toward
its goal of eradicating exploitative labor. To
these teens, it is a known fact that
“all you need to change the world
is some markers and a roll of
masking tape.” Armed with the
necessary supplies, students raise
their hands to indicate their willingness
to give presentations to
freshmen later in the week. “Hold
on, I can’t write your names fast
enough,” exclaims one girl as she
squeezes a list of volunteers into the margins of
the whiteboard.
A rosy-cheeked blonde glances at the lengthy
agenda scrawled on the board as she leads the
meeting. She expresses her excitement, saying,
“I met with students at Twin Valley and Leland
and Gray, and they really want to start groups
too.” New members watch, still unaware of the
enormity of the movement they have joined.
“… And anyone who can should come to Tuesday’s
meeting with Leland and Gray.” Her eyes
sparkle as she glances at the banner that she
noted earlier that morning, and satisfaction fills
her body. Self-conscious about talking too
much, she hands over the floor to a lanky junior,
whose unusual bracelets jingle softly as she
scribbles notes.
And above their heads Tim Kipp’s message
rings true: “Knowledge is not enough.” ✎
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