I have never posted a blog entry about my experience at Gateway High School. June 30th was my last official day as an employee of Gateway and The Osceola School District. On that note, here are some final thoughts about my high school teaching experience:
Bureaucracy
I never imagined that the job at Gateway would prove to be so rewarding and life-changing in many ways. The job came with more challenges than most because of the constant State and federal bureaucracy that shapes the lives of an educator in many ways. I was faced with many time-consuming exams (including Math – my favorite – haha) as well as countless workshops and classes conducted by the county and state for teachers. Out of the many hours, and yes hundreds of dollars spent form my own wallet, I can truly say that only about 20% of them were valid and applicable to me as a classroom teacher. Teaching in Osceola is a lot like competing in a long race through a complex obstacle course. It also reminded me much of my past dealings with the IRS in that there are many strict rules and guidelines, but they often contradict one another and even the people who originated the plan cannot answer questions about it. I know many other teachers (some who have been in education for many years) who are fed up with the bureaucracy. Many are finding new careers as a result.
Life-Lessons
The truly rewarding aspect of the job was having the privilege of being able to make a small difference in a young person’s life each day. As a teacher, I always tried to be aware of a students deeper need and address these each day. I approached the students with humor and a subtle caring attitude that gave me a platform to keep their attention and speak into their lives positive ideas and valuable life-lessons such as hard work, commitment, and discipline. I was always aware of my role and of how I was accomplishing my task of teaching theatre and TV Production. I always found that life-lessons were much more valuable and much more necessary to impart than the subject I was hired to teach.
Faculty and Administration
The other teachers and administrators came off as “cold” when I was first hired. Partly because of me – I tend to take a while to warm-up to people, and partly because they may have been skeptical of me as a teacher. After all, most of them thought I was still in high school, even though I was in my 30’s. Then again, some of them had been teachers longer than I had been alive. By the time I decided to leave Gateway this year I had grown close to many of the faculty and administrators. I truly hated to leave, having formed some good friendships and a strong mutual professional respect with them. I will never forget Mr. Terry Andrews, the principal, who made my job easy by supporting my decisions and encouraging me each week. He made a point to drop by and visit with me often weekly during my planning periods. His leadership and friendship was a nice change to other employers I had in the past. I truly felt that he respected me as a professional. I will miss working for him.
The Students
I formed some very profound relationships with many of my theatre and TV students. The students would call me a friend, but I never lost my influence as an adult and they always gave me respect and never crossed the teacher/student line with me. Most of them were afraid of me at first, as I tend to give off a “don’t disturb me” vibe. After working with them for many hours in rehearsal and going on school trips, they began to get to know me and feel more comfortable around me. I think arts teachers have an advantage and often a rare relationship with their students that other teachers cannot obtain. This comes from spending so much time in after-school rehearsals and working so closely together. I always experienced that growing up with my mentors in the arts. I also think this relationship is important for arts teachers to obtain so that they can have a strong impact on the students and help shape them. To this day, I hold my high school drama teacher in high regard and reflect upon the impact she made in my life. It was not her amazing knowledge and ability in theatre that makes me remember her, but it was her character that impacted me the most. I hope this will be thought of me in about 15 – 20 years when my former students are thinking back to their high school days.
Closing Thoughts
I don’t know if I will ever teach high school again. I do know that if I ever have a job as rewarding and as meaningful as the one I had at Gateway, I will be one of the luckiest guys on the planet.
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Mr. G,
I never knew how much Mr. Andrews supported the Drama department (aside from money donations) until I read this. You spoke of your high school Drama teacher in class before, and I’m going to tell you this right now. We won’t remember that about you 15-20 years into the future. Your character, and the life-lessons that you taught us will follow us, inspire us, encourage us, and haunt us, for, I would hope to think, the rest of our lives. Thank you for being a true “Teacher”.
Your favorite gay, demonic, feminine, and feathery friend,
Roger
I’ve said this to you endless times and words can not describe the impact you have had on my life. You are the most influential individual in my life, thank you for guiding me and I hope to continue seeking your guidance and friendship.
A gay drama student? That’s the craziest thing I’ve ever heard.
Just so you know, the PAC has realized that you are gone and has started to complain. I was in the PAC today during a thunderstorm and the doors, ceiling, and other normal places started leaking. Nothing new. Then the dirty room started to have a look. I realized this meant there was a leak in the room above it too and went up to the dimmer room which was quickly getting a large puddle on the floor. After shutting off the dimmers so we wouldn’t loose them and coming back down the ladder, the puddle coming from the door was growing faster and moving into the dirty room. I believe the PAC has given up now that you are gone. Josh suggests recommending that the PAC is demolished and rebuilt. I told him to be careful because the school may only take first part of his suggestion.
mr. g,
you were freakin awesome. one of the coolest teachers i ever had. i hope everything is good in Oklahoma. Mom keeps me up to date on the sale of your house. tehe. that is what she is good for well just wanted to say “hi”.
mom liked your youtube videos too.
<3 samantha.
Paul – that’s great! I’m glad to know I’m missed by my PAC. I will miss it too. You’re right, the school would take the first part of the suggestion and demolish the PAC. Well. . .the county workers would.
Mr. G (ster)
It took me a bit of time to find this entry, but after finally finding it and reading it over I was thoroughly touched. I know was probably quite the strange individual (perhaps even a dread sometimes), but I’ve attempted to carry the lessons you’ve provided us with each and everyday. Morals, ethics, standards, techniques, these are but a few of the things your teaching affected within me, which profoundly influences my current mode of theatre (and sometimes life) realted thinking
That, and had it not been for that car wash funraiser, I would’ve never figured out how to clean an automobile or attract people who desired washing.