By Allison Gable
Holmes Middle School
Teachers are all asked the same questions from people: Why did you become a teacher? or Why don’t you do something that pays more?
For me, it’s simple: kids deserve it. Kids deserve teachers in their classrooms who not only care about them as a student but them as a person. Kids deserve a CHAMPION.
Looking back at my twelve years of school prior to college, I can pinpoint one teacher who was there for me in the most difficult of times. Third and fourth grade were challenging years for my young eight-year-old self. Many life changes happened that year that affected my school life. However, I was fortunate enough to have my third-grade teacher, Mrs. Daley, my champion, in my life.
Allison Gable — a champion for Emily.
At a time when kids were supposed to be kids, I was faced with adult-sized problems that she sensed. She provided me with a safe and loving environment to thrive academically. I was able to cope with life at home because of her, and I came out a stronger person.
How can a teacher be a champion? We don’t compete for first place or win gold medals. We are just responsible for teaching our students content.
However, there is so much more to teaching than anyone can ever prepare you for. According to www.dictionary.com, a champion can be defined as “a person who fights for or defends any person or cause.”
As a teacher, my job is to fight for my students. I spend my days defending my students’ dreams, helping them to ignore the naysayers and pushing them to succeed in their life. I want my students to know they have a teacher behind them willing to help them fight for what they want. As educators, we play such pivotal roles in both our students’ interest in the learning process and as a support system outside our four-wall classrooms.
After talking with a few previous students, it is evident the importance of a champion. From making school exciting to being a support while at school, teachers are the key component to a student’s school life.
AJ emphasizes the importance of his champion keeping him interested in school. He says, “My champion, Ms. Goff, made me want to learn. I was always excited to be in her classroom.”
One of the most humbling compliments to receive as an educator is for a student to say that you are their reason for coming to school.
One of my old students, Emily, identified me as her champion.
She said, “You make my dreams achievable”. She continued to talk about teachers who have not supported her dreams in her further career choices. “My champion says, ‘If you want to do this career, let’s make it happen!’”
Emily knows that even once she leaves my classroom, I will be her biggest cheerleader in life.
A few years back, a TED Talk video with an educator named Rita Pierson went viral in the education world. She talked about how every kid deserves a champion. She has coined the phrase, “Kids don’t learn from people they don’t like.” Rita was right. Students don’t learn from people they don’t like and every kid does deserve a champion in their corner.
Relationships matter.
My career is not about what I get paid…it’s about making sure my students walk out of our classroom better people than when they walked in. I get to make a difference in the life of each student I get to teach.
I will be the champion they deserve.
I am paying it forward for my champion, Mrs. Daley. In return, my students will become a champion for someone else in their lives because every person deserves a champion.
Allison Gale is a math intervention teacher at Holmes Middle School in Covington. She recently graduated from the University of the Cumberlands with her Master’s degree.
