“I hear thunder!” roared Zeus, as the sixth grade class spun out of control. “I am Zeus! The God of Thunder!” Mr. Sturm boomed.
The classroom quieted to a whisper; I pulled out my history book and opened to Ancient Greece. And then class began.
Sixth grade was a difficult year. I did not do well on homework and I received my worst marks in the first semester; Straight-B’s. However, it was Mr. Sturm that kept my interest in school. And keeping a sixth-grader’s interest is like trying to hold mercury in your hand.
Mr. Sturm is an avid outdoorsman. He has a passion for pheasant hunting and spending time with his hunting dogs. Mr. Sturm told stories of his weekends spent with nature. He also loves to make and eat wild game. He often raved about his chicken-foot stew and cow tongue.
On the back wall of the classroom, under the expansive display of mounted pheasants, Mr. Sturm posted a riddle each week. Every riddle included his chocolate lab puppy, Hank, and his pheasant hunting endeavors. I scribbled my guess onto a scrap piece of paper and threw it into the bucket. Mr. Sturm drew answers out of the bucket until one solved the riddle. The winner received a mysterious “cow” candy, stored in a glass jar on the top shelf of a bookcase. I only won once.
“Make like a tree and leave!” yelled Mr. Sturm when the final bell rang. I packed up and rushed to the bus; Excited for what tomorrow would bring.
I am nominating Mr. Sturm as Educator of the Year award because he made sixth grade the most memorable year in my academic career. He shared life experiences which help me focus my efforts on school today.