Extraordinary Examples Of Inspiring Teachers Who Really Went The Extra Mile

Teachers teach because they care.

Elana

• Published in Interesting
• May 31, 2019

Teachers really raise the bar on humanity. The average annual salary is $55k, and when you put into perspective that half of all the teachers out there are making less than that (some making less than $30k/year,) it really begins to paint a picture about a working demographic's desires for the public. According to weareteachers.com, teachers: spend $500 of their own money on average every year on classroom supplies, work an average of 50 hours per week with over 400 hours of overtime annually, and that's not all. Something like 30% of teachers work a second job to get by and 65% of teachers will cover food and field trip costs for their students.

Teachers are important, from grade school to graduate school. So it's high time we highlight some of the most incredible stories we've come across to give emphasis to a career that is far too often underpaid, underappreciated, and over-worked. Teachers are incredible!

A No Homework Policy

Samantha Gallagher took to Facebook to celebrate on her daughter's behalf when their teacher sent home a notice about her "No Homework Policy."

You may find yourself wondering, "what? How? Why?" I don't blame you! We always tend to accept that homework is just part of the school experience, but at what cost? Academic research on the topic of homework is completely mixed, no one can seem to agree if homework has a positive or negative impact. Some research suggests it's a matter of teachers assigning the right homework, as well.

As for Mrs. Young and her classroom? She heavily researched the topic of how homework effects academic performance and says she found, "no evidence that extra work after school results in better understanding of the material." Instead, she encourages her students to work only on what they don't/can't complete during class time! She also encourages families to use their evening time to focus on each other, reading together, and most importantly: getting enough sleep, something all research affirms is super important.

On the other hand... sometimes homework is a MUST!

What better way to motivate your students to do that all-so-important homework assignment than to offer a reward at your own expense?

Reddit user _Piratical_ shared this hilarious photo of her sister, a middle-school teacher who promised her students that if they all turned in their homework on time that she would teach the next class dressed in a chicken suit. When the students delivered, so did she! At least one instance she ended up wearing the silly costume twice in a single week. That's dedication to making your kids smile and do their work.

Homework gets tougher over the years.

It's not just elementary school, middle school, and high school with devoted teachers. The homework burden becomes super intense once you reach college and some of your teachers may be flippant about your assignments and whether or not you even show up, but for this professor's students they were in for some hardcore dedication to learning.

Marissa Flood was a student at East Carolina University who was so impressed by this late-night library session she shared it on Twitter. After responding to countless e-mails by overwhelmed students he soon found himself side by side with them well into the night helping them study. These students are set up for success.

Teachers volunteer their time to walk ALL of their students home safely.

In Memphis, Tennessee, the students of Whitney Achievement Elementary are incredibly lucky to be loved by five teachers who volunteer their after-school time to their students. Each of the five teachers walks a group of students home safely. That's a total of 200 students, by the way! They use this time to help their students and connect to them outside of the classroom. Carl Schneider, one of the teachers, told his local Fox news station:

This is just part of my routine, and it’s something that I look forward to. At the same time, I’m also really glad that people know the teachers in this community are really invested in the community.

Chris Hill, the director of communications for the Achievement School District, told TODAY.com:

One of the things we realized immediately was the safety of our students was priority No. 1, and connecting with the community is right up there with that. The kids love it, and they even request certain teachers, and we've been learning that the teachers thoroughly enjoy connecting with the students.

Improving Lives? Some are also SAVING lives!

Teachers are notorious for spending their own money on supplies, food, and experiences for their students but that's nowhere near where the dedication to the health and long-lives of these children ends. Jen Sculley, a Physical Education teacher in Denver, Colorado literally donated her kidney to one of her sick students! In doing so, she gave up an entire semester of work. The anonymous teenager (whose identity is protected due to their young age,) spent hours every night on dialysis, unable to enjoy even the most simple of daily activities healthy teenagers often take for granted. Jen Sculley really was a hero to this student!

Sometimes their decisions are controversial.

Somewhere a line exists between helicopter parenting and responsible parenting, but this headmaster was hailed for his assertion that parents need to butt out of their kids' mistakes. Is this an "important survival skill," or a life lesson about responsibility? The headmaster insisted parents not drop off forgotten school items for students from homework and sports equipment to even lunch.

One user on the original Reddit thread argued, "functioning, successful adults occasionally forget something and their partner of friend helps them out by dropping it off for them."

Another argued, "f**k this sign. Kids are not adults and forget sh**t and don't think things through."

But a lot of people also agreed there is a difference between once or twice a year and a consistent pattern of behavior. We're sure the line exists somewhere and we are inclined to believe that the headmaster had the best intentions for the sense of responsibility developing in the students.

Mental Health Check-In

Today's youth are experiencing stress and anxiety at younger ages than ever before and in unprecedented levels. The world is a tumultuous place and the financial constraints of adults are leaking into the day to day lives of children. Tara Mitchell Holman turned to Facebook to share what one teacher in her community was doing and offer praises. Jessie Cayton is a Texas teacher who thinks, "teaching is magic," and we're inclined to believe she's correct! She puts up this board to allow hers students to check in with how they're feeling, which in turn gives her the opportunity to check in with them on a individual level if they're having a bad week. The students write their names on the part of the sticky note that other students cannot see, leaving it anonymous and easier for Cayton to one-on-one with her students who need it the most.

Browsing through Cayton's Instagram feed, it's pretty clear she's focused on empathy and empowering her students to success and we're so here for it!

Childcare is a reality, not a burden.

It's not outside the realm of normal for college students to have kids these days and when a student at Morehouse College came to class with his infant because his childcare arrangement fell through, Professor Nathan Alexander responded with dignity and grace. He didn't kick his student out or humiliate him, instead... he put on the baby carrier and wore the baby for the entirety of class while he taught! He wanted his student, Wayne Hayer, to be able to focus on the lecture and take notes and he made sure the tiny tot, 5-month-old Asada, had what she needed to get through the unexpected change in routine as well.

In a society that often makes it difficult for young parents to push through and succeed, this is the sort of empowerment young adults need. Via the Washington Post:

“I had a book bag on and a baby strapped to my chest. I looked crazy,” he said. As he approached the classroom door, Hayer felt intimidated. “Then Dr. Alexander saw me and welcomed me with open arms.”

More than standard education

Liz Kleinrock is an "anti bias educator," with a TED talk of her own and she teaches third grade! Kleinrock knows that children are never too young to learn about the concept of consent and she found a great (and age-appropriate) way to discuss the topic with her students: hugs. Liz knows that if a 9-year old can grasp the concept of asking for permission to hug somebody, they are already geared in the right direction to understand the concept of consent in more complex issues like sex and romance.

These pivotal stepping stones are an important foundation for youth to start off in the right direction in life and more adults could take notes from what Kleinrock has to offer her students.

If you think the efforts teachers go through to educate the future, check out what happened to Diane Tirado when she refused to give her students a score below 50% for not turning in their assignment! She was fired.

Elana