There are some amazing teachers out there, and I haven’t met them all, but I have met one. Mrs. Gaskill, my eighth grade science teacher from St. Mary Magdelen, happens to be that teacher. Her qualities as a person combined with her ability to teach in a way that both intrigues you and captivates your attention, are beyond compare. By just having her for a year I knew that after going through her science course, I wouldn’t forget what I had learned, but I also wouldn’t forget who I learned it from. She taught me not just science, but also how to become a better person and how to build character. Mrs. Gaskill is many things; she knows who she is and is very assertive. She is kind hearted, and she is caring. She will get up earlier in the morning if you need help in either math or science if needed. Your success was her success, and she was dedicated as both a teacher and a person to make sure that you succeed. She pushed you and expected you to do the same; not only for a good grade, but for the satisfaction you get for earning the grade. However, all these traits don’t compare to what I attribute to her best quality, being there for you when you need it as a teacher or a person.
Coming into eighth grade I was pumped to go to high school, scared yet excited as many were. I remember thinking this will be easy! It was my last year and it would fly by with all the dances, and then we would have graduation. Mrs. Gaskill had other ideas sadly, but thinking about it now it helped me in the long run. Mrs. Gaskill made you work for what you archieved; it wasn’t always easy and it required effort that you either gave, or you would regret later. I remember getting back my first test grade and being shocked at how low it was compared to how I felt I did. Even though at times I disliked working hard for my grades, I can now truly appreciate how much Mrs. Gaskill did to get me prepared for high school. Getting grades was a major part of eighth grade, but the other part was paying attention in class. Some students complain that their teachers are boring and found themselves dozing off in class, but it was never like that with Mrs. Gaskill. She had a way of teaching that kept you paying attention, taking notes, and staying organized. I still haven’t found out quite what it was; I think it might have been a mixture of the fact I liked her as a teacher, and that what she taught kept me on the edge of my seat. The way that she taught was informative, without making you feel stupid, and over time you earned her respect as a student for getting good grades and being respectful.
In eighth grade work was everything, learning was a process, and Mrs. Gaskill was there to help us when we needed it. Getting good grades was important, and slacking off was not optional although some of the boys who didn’t care would say otherwise. Asking for help is not my strong point and many people would probably agree that they would rather try to do it themselves and get it wrong than ask for help, but I found myself perfectly comfortable asking for help from Mrs. Gaskill. The way that she would help you was to sit down and give you a problem to address what you didn’t and did know. To me this was one of the best things a teacher can do. One of the things that‘s stuck in my head about Mrs. Gaskill is that she helped you for your success, and to her that was her success. This is the best quality a teacher can have, making sure that you are successful and helping you to reach that goal.
In my last year at St. Mary Magdelen, I learned more about myself than I had in third through seventh. In the beginning of eighth grade our guidance counselor told us that this would happen because we were maturing, but I never imagined that it would have such an impact. Mrs. Gaskill had a lot to do with this. Like in every school, we had classroom rules like respect, and honor, but we also had one that wasn’t spoken: be yourself. Being yourself is hard, but it’s easier I think when you have a teacher that respected everyone as an individual. Mrs. Gaskill didn’t judge you based on who you were, what you looked like, or who your friends were. In all honesty in not sure if she judged anyone at all except on how they treated her as a teacher. Mrs. Gaskill is very kind and open with you; she will tell you when she likes what you are doing, but she also will tell you when she doesn’t like what you’re doing. This was one of my favorite qualities that Mrs. Gaskill shared with me. Being truthful with us as students, respecting us as people, trusting us to complete our homework honestly, and making us take responsibility when we don’t. All of these qualities aren’t even a quarter of what makes Mrs. Gaskill such a great person.
The last thing that I look for in everyone was called to my attention by none other than Mrs. Gaskill. This quality is being there for you as a teacher or even as a friend or acquaintance. Mrs. Gaskill wasn’t just a teacher to many of her students myself included. She was someone I could talk to if I was having issues with other students or even if I wanted to tell her about my weekend. She would stay professional as my teacher, but she would also listen and that’s what mattered to me. She did her job, but she also went above and beyond that. Mrs. Gaskill had traits that many teachers should invest in, not only would they gain more respect from their students but they also would get to know them better. Mrs. Gaskill is one of the most influential people in my life. The lessons that she taught me in my last year at St. Mary Magdelen can be used for the rest of my life and will follow me wherever I go. This is the reason that I am nominating Mrs. Gaskill for the Educator of the Year Award.