It’s Teachers Who Make the Difference in Schools

By Jana Riggins, Speech and Debate Director | Monday, August 27, 2012 3:15 PM

I’m an individual who is fascinated with facts and figures, based-on-true-story movies and the news. Yes, I admit it. I love the news so much my sons have labeled me a news junkie. This summer when they were home for stretches of time, they learned to automatically change the channel from sports to news, no words exchanged, when I walked in the door after work.

So, admittedly, I was intrigued to discover the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates there are over seven million teachers in America. My first thought about that statistic? Seven million – wow! What an army of individuals to impact our world!

Amanda Paulson, writer for the Christian Science Monitor, draws a conclusion from her research for a special edition of the Monitor focusing on improving schools in America: “Teachers are the most important factor in student learning — more important than textbooks, tests, computers, classrooms, peer groups, study guides or any other aspect of the education industry.” 

More important than technology? More important than resources, budgets and facilities?  More important than standardized tests???  I believe Ms. Paulson is on to something. For you see, I am living proof of her deduction.

I was the luckiest kid in the world. Lucky because growing up in a tiny Northeast Texas town we went to class in a school building built in pre-war times and our air conditioning was provided by huge Dutch windows pushed open during the hottest times of the day. Not until sixth grade were oscillating fans installed on one end of the blackboards. Our “gym” was called the “dark room,” a normally unused foreboding classroom where all the kids were sequestered when the rain made it impossible to go outside to play and where high school student volunteers made up games to keep us occupied till the bell signaled recess was over. And, no, we had no computer lab. Gasp.

But, did I say I was lucky? Indeed I was! My first-grade teacher was Mary Kay Dellis and she exuded love through her smile and open arms every day. I learned I was accepted even if I did wear coke bottle-thick eyeglasses. Lucky to reach fifth grade and have Mrs. Opal Flanagan, the teacher who made learning incredibly fun through small-group and individual hands-on projects that allowed our talents to shine. Salt maps, illustrated poetry books and creative writing assignments breathed life into subjects like geography and English. She’s the one who instilled in me a life-long love for literature and reading. Most significantly, Opal Flanagan was the inspiration for my professional career. It was because of her I knew I wanted to inspire children just as she had me – that, without a doubt, I was called to teach. 

The list goes on: Katherine Algood, who made me like math (Did I really say I ever liked math?) and Raymond Jones, the greatest middle school teacher ever, high school English teachers Mrs. Pittman and Mrs. Langford… individuals who molded me into who I am today not only through their passion for their subject but with their personal encouragement.

And those saints who nurtured each of my four sons. Yes, they had to be saints… Susan Neff, who traveled more than 100 miles on a Sunday afternoon to my son’s university to hear his ensemble sing three years after he graduated from her high school choral program; the athletic coaching staff that served as leadership role models for another child, inspiring him to become a coach, too. Amazing people who gave more than knowledge to their students – they loved them.

I saw the same dedication this summer when I met with many of you at summer speech and debate camps, giving weeks of your “vacation time” back to your students. Those who came to the League office to develop LD Debate resolutions for the school year and those who spent their own finances to fly clear across the country to assist with the national debate topic selection process.

Those who came to Austin for our summer coaching workshop. And there will be even more of you who climb on school buses each and every weekend to teach your craft outside the classroom in the UIL competitive arena.

As the year grows long and the free weekends to yourself oh-so-much-shorter, you may ask yourself why you give so much of yourself to UIL activities and to those crazy teenagers at the back of the bus. Here’s the reason why.

Statistically, there may be seven million of you out there…. but rest assured, you are ONE in a million in the life of some child.