Charging the field, chasing kids, and teaching math barely scratch the surface of what Mr. Vento can do. Mr.Vento was my eighth grade math teacher and one of my favorites. In his class we would spend about a quarter of the class talking about sports, and then make a smooth transition into a math lesson and learn what was needed. There’s not an abundance of students that enjoy math class, maybe that's because they didn’t have Mr.Vento as a teacher. He made the classes he taught better than the last.
Students walked into his class and you saw a collage of Brewer and Packer gear clutter shelves behind his desk. He had one special snow globe that was older than most of the students at the school. It was so fragile, it made kids hold it like they were holding a wounded bird, and shiver every time it wobbled. Students were greeted every class by Mr.Vento with a hello or good morning.
He wasn’t overly tall (still taller than me) but had a booming voice that made you feel like he was. He taught us to take responsibility and taught us to always persevere. I didn’t have my homework done and he asked me why and before I got a word out he said, “if it’s going to be an excuse then I don't want to hear it, just get your work done.” I did my homework from that day on. He didn’t yell, he didn’t make you feel bad, he just treated you like an adult. Students did not have excuses in his class, because he didn't accept excuses. He treated us like adults before we were teenagers.
Mr.Vento’s class was not a class to be lazy in. Students needed to participate, do their homework, and enjoy learning. We were given a project in his class that was truly enjoyable. You had to plan for college and the college life. Students picked their favorite school, vehicle, living situations and had a monthly budget that needed to be planned precisely. This project helped reality set in. Yes we are teenagers, but we are growing up and need to be prepared. This project that Mr.Vento designed, did just that. He provided a cluster of chances to be adults and for just another “stupid teenager”, that meant the world.
Your job for the whole eighth grade year was to do well, and get into the best fit class for you for your freshman year. Preparation for high school was what Mr.Vento excelled in. He devoted every lesson to get us prepared the best way he could. He made class as fun and as entertaining as a football game. Test anxiety no longer existed in his class. He provided comedic relief during class, broke the silence, and cut through the anxiety like a freshly sharpened knife through soft butter. Mr.Vento made students want to show up to class everyday. This is why he deserves this award, and why I nominate him to win.