Mr.Josh HAMILTON

Who, specifically, in your life influenced your decision to become a teacher?

What do you feel is the biggest reward?

Who, specifically, in your life influenced your decision to become a teacher?

I've been fortunate to have been taught by some wonderful teachers in my life. I've got to shout out Mrs. Tillman, Mrs. Yarbrough, Professor Donaldson, and Dr. Kenneth Noe. However, my mom, Jenny Hamilton, who recently retired after 40+ years in education, had the greatest influence on my decision to become a teacher. Growing up I saw first hand the impact she had on the students in her classroom. She had such a passion for education, it was contagious. I explored many different career paths, including a year in law school, yet found none that brought real joy. I circled back to education and my mom suggested that I sign up for substitute teaching just to try it out. I immediately enjoyed the experience and realized that as usual, momma knew best!

What is your biggest challenge as a teacher?

Mrs. Wendy McClendon. My beautiful, kindhearted second grade teacher. What an amazing woman! I can't remember exactly how, but somehow, I won "teacher for the day" that year. I was able to dress like my teacher, sit at the teacher's desk, teach a short lesson to my fellow second graders, eat lunch with the other teachers, and so on. It was such a special day that I have never forgotten. She built our character, she believed in us, she made us each feel so loved, so important, and so valued. I knew that if I ever actually became a teacher, I would strive to treat my students the way she did.

What is your biggest challenge as a teacher?

Each year I gain a new classroom family; the students become "my babies"—we grow together, we learn together, we laugh and cry together, we do life together—and then at the end of each school year I watch that "family" go to the next grade level. It is part of the job, but that part never gets any easier for me.

I think the biggest challenge is learning all the different personalities and learning styles of your students. We have about 150 students in our middle school and you want to bring out the potential in all of them. We have high academic and spiritual expectations at CKCS and you want every student to rise to the challenge and meet those expectations. In order to do that it takes some time learning what makes each student tick and how best they learn. This can be challenging, but it's a good and rewarding challenge.

What do you feel is the biggest reward?

There are many rewarding moments as a teacher. For example when a student connects the dots and grasps a concept we've been working on for weeks, or when a student recalls something we covered last year and you realize they really were listening to you! But for me, the most rewarding moments are when I see students who have graduated from CKCS and they come up and say hey and ask how things are at CKCS and fill me in on what's going on in their lives. They are under no obligation to say anything to me, but you develop real relationships with these students after three years together. When they've graduated and still remember their old middle school teacher, it makes me smile every time!

If you could leave your students with one message, what would it be?

Oh! There are so many rewards! The laughter, the milestones, the hugs, the "aha" moments, the memories, the field trips, the growth, the cards from students, the authenticity of young kids, the summers off, and the list goes on and on...but the biggest reward, I believe, is the relationships with my students.

How do you make learning fun for your students?

As a teacher, the best way to make learning fun and to help your students succeed is to truly get to know them. Once the students know I totally support them, the sky becomes the limit! Kids love crafts, games, and challenges. We do many hands on activities, we dance, we sing, we joke, we admit our mistakes, we share, we work in teams, and we create.

Ok, I've got two messages. First, find something you're passionate about in life and devote yourself to that subject. Never stop learning. The second one is something I really try to make clear to the students, that we are so blessed. Thank God that you were born in the 21st century and you live in America! When you study history and learn how difficult and challenging life was for the vast majority of all humans that have ever existed and compare that to the lives that we currently have, gosh you should feel blessed!