When I started teaching two years ago, I truly thought I would
teach second period every day and that would be that. Silly, right? Teaching is 20% in-class quizzes, lectures and grading. However, the majority of what makes a class a successful one and students better off for taking it...is what happens when Ms. or Mr. Teacher has gone home and they are PREPPING for the next big project. It's been time consuming and enlightening. I wouldn't change it for the world!
Two years ago, my view on education was a tainted one. My background as a journalist had taught me Education was all about Test Scores, Teacher Protests and Overcrowded Class Sizes. And the TV show 'Glee' showed me there would be outbursts of singing and lots of drama. So pretty much I was ready to teach. Ha! (After two years, I
wish there was more choreography and singing...Glee is not accurate. At. All.) Really though, after having an inside look at how schools function I realize our greatest problem is certainly NOT whether every student in a class can pass with a B-average to receive federal funding for the next year. We need to take a step back and focus on believing in these kids; showing them it's worth it to keep trying. Taking away their phones during class, and showing them a
real world exists - they can be a part of it...in fact they can change it, for the better, if they so choose.
This is the School Studio where we broadcast a 10-minute Morning News Show, Four Days a Week.
I took my students on a tour of the KUTV News Studio.
Here they got a front row seat to all of the pre-production that goes into the 5 o'clock newscast. They also met some talented local celebrities, after watching them anchor the news live.
MARCH MADNESS! March is the busiest 31 days for a Broadcasting Teacher. We kicked off the month with the
•High School Broadcasting Awards• Students from schools along the Wasatch Front competed in Radio, Video and Journalism Competitions. Lehi students did well. Krista Hintze, one of my Seniors, won "Best Female Anchor".
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| Video Production Teachers from Mountain View High School, Pleasant Grove and my Co-Teacher at Lehi facilitating the event |
My dear friend, who was also one of my BYU professors, Robert Walz came and spoke as the Keynote. After a long day of competition, one of my favorite news anchors spoke to the students. 2news This Morning's Mary Nickles shared perspective and advice with these aspiring journalists. Mary is so kind & down to earth. She is genuine, accomplished, and just as charming off camera as she is when you watch her on TV. I love working with her up at KUTV.
Jody joined me for the awards ceremony and dinner. By this time, I was starting to feel a bit worn out...the sleepless nights leading up to the event started to catch up with me.
Watching the students hear their names announced as winners was awesome! And then I received the surprise of my year -- "The Utah Broadcasting Teacher of the Year Award". What an honor. I was beyond surprised. My co-teacher, Dustin Topham, wrote a letter to the Board, suggesting I be considered for the award. I was nominated and then chosen.
In the beginning of the school year, I had a lapse in judgement. I forgot HOW BUSY March is. I signed up for every Preschool activity during the month of March: Moms and Muffins, Homework Correcting, Helping at the Lizard Show, and St. Patrick's Day Party. It was go, go, go!
Back over at Lehi High School, we prepped all month for the State SkillsUSA Competition. Each competing school can send TWO teams to State. Last year, Lehi was the only school to do that, and we took First and Second place. This year every school with the exception of North Summit and Tooele sent TWO teams. The competition was steep, and these other teams were ready to knock Lehi off of their Defending Champions Status. In fact I overheard one team walk out after they
finished anchoring/directing their show, "I think we did really good! Good enough to beat Lehi!"
My students were the team to beat.
It's tough sending and preparing •two• teams. You know one team will inevitably place higher than the other. So there will be broken hearts and tears from one team, and excitement and celebration from another. It was difficult to split myself last year; be there for all of them in that moment. And this year, it happened again. One of my teams took the Bronze Medal and the other Won Gold. The winners represent Utah in the Broadcast News Production Category at the SkillsUSA National Competition later this month. I was ecstatic that both teams worked hard enough to place on the podium. However, it was clear they both were competing for that top spot. I expected crying from my female students, but it broke my heart to see those 18-year-old boys choking back the tears. They watched their dream of representing the state, earning scholarships, and national exposure fade away. It hurts. And it's something I know a little about.
Every Miss America Pageant, when that epic moment arises and two women are left standing...one woman is called as Miss America, while the other is quickly ushered off to the side. The contestant soon to be forgotten is the one I watch. I know how she feels; I lived that moment. It wasn't The Miss America Pageant -- but it was on the Miss Utah Stage with nearly 60 other contestants. And now watching my students experience their own highs and lows, I can confidently say,
"Wherever you fly, you'll be the best of the best.
Wherever you go, you will top all the rest.
Except when you don't.
Because, sometimes you won't.
I am sorry to say so but sadly it's true, that Bang-ups and Hang-ups can happen to you.
Oh, the places you'll go! There is fun to be done! There are points to be scored. There are games to be won. FAME! You'll be famous as famous can be, with the whole wide world watching you win on TV.
Except when you don't.
Because, sometimes you won't.
But will you succeed? Yes! You will indeed. Kid, you'll move mountains!"
What does Dr. Seuss teach us? Success is not determined by medals or awards. It is however, measured by showing class in disappointing situations and the ability to pick yourself back up after a devastating blow. Success is how high you bounce when you hit bottom. It is not judged by a moment on a podium with a large audience watching.
It's a way of life.
Success is progression; growth to a better you.
And the Gold Medalists from Lehi; oh I am thrilled for them!!! We are prepping for Nationals which happen the end of June. These students are coachable, talented and I know they will shine on that National Stage in Kansas City.
I can't believe the year is over! Congratulations to the Class of 2013. The biggest shock of teaching - well it's this: caring about someone else's kids in a way you didn't think you could. You see, Jody and my sweet girls take up all of my heart...but these students found a way in. I received some letters from students on the last day of school. That is by far the BEST Teacher Gift ever. One letter listed some life lessons this particular student had learned from me, which she attributed was more important than journalism terms. She wrote,
"To smile even when it's hard, to show respect even when you don't like the person, to be humble even when you think you are the most qualified in the room, and that losing doesn't kill you nor stop you from trying again."
High School is a roller coaster, and it's been a thrill to say the least. I will miss watching the Class of 2014 graduate next year, since I am not coming back to teach. But I am thankful for the opportunity I had to be called an educator.
