FAVORITE SCHOOL MEMORY

HIGH SCHOOL WORLD HISTORY

Roger Breed

Commissioner of Education Nebraska

“I was fortunate to have many great teachers and many fond memories from the public schools I attended. One of my favorite teachers was Mrs. Williams, high school world history. Mrs. Williams made world history come alive with unbridled enthusiasm and unbounded humor. Her special talent was telling the stories of significant Greco-Roman historical figures in a way that connected them to present day issues. She was barely 5 feet tall but when she was in full storytelling mode, she held the attention of every student.”

straight TALK Five Teachers Who Made a Difference

FIFTH GRADE

Sen. Joe Balyeat

Montana

“My favorite childhood school memory was our one-week conservation class, when our fifth grade teacher took the entire class on a weeklong educational excursion into the mountains of Montana. We stayed in a youth camp and spent every day out in the woods learning everything about woodland plants and animals. I had already spent many days tagging along with Dad on hunting and fishing excursions; but this week was the beginning of my lifelong addiction to the outdoors ... not just experiencing the wild, but understanding mankind’s responsibility to conserve and manage this incredibly complex creation which has been entrusted to us.”

STORYTIME

Kevin Fangman

Department of Education Acting Director Iowa

“My favorite childhood memory of a teacher is of Ann Silker. Mrs. Silker gathered us after lunch and at the end of the day on the ‘reading rug.’ During these times, she captivated us with stories such as ‘Where the Red Fern Grows’ and ‘Where the Lilies Bloom’ to name a few. I remember the whole class sobbing at times as we felt the pain of the characters in the books she brought to life for us. The bell would ring to go home at the end of the day and we would all remain sitting there mesmerized by the power of a book and a prolific reader.”

HIGH SCHOOL CURRENT AFFAIRS

Tony Wilson

Microsoft Midwest Director of Government Affairs

“My fondest memory of a teacher would be Mrs. Craddock, my high school current affairs teacher. While I did not understand it at the time, Mrs. Craddock was one of the first teachers to challenge me. I could have cruised through and got a decent grade in her class. She pulled me aside and told me that she expected more from me and that I needed to step it up. She not only challenged me to exceed expectations but showed me how my education would affect every aspect of my future. I believe that teachers like Mrs. Craddock are the most precious resource this country has to offer.”

HIGH SCHOOL ENGLISH

Jim Rex

Superintendent of Education, South Carolina

“The teacher who made the biggest impression on me was my high school English teacher and football coach. Mr. Morgan was very calm and very self-confident. Over time, he instilled a lot of self-confidence in me. Even though he encouraged me to go to college, I didn’t go to college right away. I worked construction instead; then I worked in a factory. After a while, my factory job started to get to me, and that was when I started to think about college—because of the seed planted by Mr. Morgan. By the way, I ended up being an English teacher and a football coach.”