The stories you’ll read here are from people like you who had found success in many walks of life before they became teachers. As you’ll see, they have each found a new sense of fulfillment as educators.
Bill Vogel
Holiday Hill, Exceptional Student Education
It was 2004. My wife had just survived her fourth brain surgery. We faced the realization far more vividly than most that there was no guarantee what tomorrow would bring. In the blink of an eye, my two boys had suddenly turned eight and ten years old. Did I dare wait for another blink to see them off to starting their own lives as young adults?
For the first time in almost fifty years, my eyes were wide open. I had spent the better part of 25 years focusing my efforts on money, power and position. And I had achieved success. But when you are chasing material things, satisfaction is elusive. The more you have, the more you want. The more you want, the less satisfied you are. And I wasn’t. I certainly wasn’t fulfilled by landing another big deal or making more money.
So in 2005 I became a teacher. A new profession for new goals:
- I wanted to maximize my time with my soul mate and our two children. I wanted to soak up every minute together that we could, while we could. Your children do not care if you make $200,000 or $20,000 per year. They want you. And time with them is the greatest gift you can give.
- I wanted to make a difference. I wanted to give back to the community and our children. Through teaching, I could be a positive role model to so many. Perhaps I could change some lives and be “that teacher” that we all look back upon who taught us lasting lessons—about academics and more important, about life.
I am now approaching the end of my second year as an educator. I love it! Plain and simple. My personal satisfaction is sky high. Nothing in the business world approached the feeling of reaching a student; the relationships with the children; the joy and pain of their successes and failures.
I would like to share with you one of the experiences I had last year. There was a particularly difficult, troubled and tough child in my class. He was unyielding and would not give in, but I would not give up. We squared off daily all year long. Combatants for sure. At the end of the year, he walked up behind me and said “Mr. Vogel?” I turned around and he hugged me tightly saying, “I wish you were my Daddy.” I could only nod my head and hug back as tears welled up in my eyes. I will treasure that moment for the rest of my life.
So I traded my tailored suits and the board room for the classroom. I won’t be driving a new Lexus to our beach house. But you know what? Last summer I spent six weeks camping with my family all the way up to New England. A dream realized.
I’m now making a difference—with my students and my family. For the first time in my life, I feel like a very, very rich man.
Cathy Eldridge
Twin Lakes Middle School, Algebra
Before I became a teacher, I worked as an industrial engineer for three years, then as a sales representative for eight years, and as a stay-at-home mom for ten years, which is when I became interested in the field of teaching.
While staying at home with my three children, all three years apart, I started volunteering in the schools that my children attended. My oldest son was visually impaired, so by volunteering I could talk with his teachers, help them decide what lessons needed to be enlarged and do the enlarging if necessary, helping any way I could to make the teacher’s and my son’s classroom experience as easy as possible. I was the room mom, president of the SAC committees at their various schools and was completely involved.
My husband told me as a joke, “With as much time as you spend helping in the schools, you might as well get paid for it.” I took that comment seriously. Now, I teach algebra to eighth graders and love what I teach. The only thing I love more than the subject matter is seeing my children mature and “get it.” Even though my own children have moved on, I have the luxury of still being involved with early adolescents. I am truly glad I entered the teaching profession.
Charles McWhite
West Jacksonville Elementary School, Assistant Principal
While in college, one of the last professions I thought about entering was education. I resisted any overtures from family and friends that I would make a great teacher. Besides, I wanted to make lots of money and there was no way that would happen in education. I wanted to work in the sports industry.
Imagine my surprise that while in college, my hometown was granted an NFL franchise. I knew I wanted to work for the Jacksonville Jaguars, no matter what. I graduated in August 1994 and began working for the Jacksonville Jaguars organization in September 1994 in the ticketing department. I was fortunate enough to be selected to appear as the main figure in a nationally-televised commercial as the “Ticketman.” It was my time working with the Jaguars that made me realize I wanted to get into education.
An employee’s wife coordinated a volunteer reading program at a local elementary school. I decided to participate. We would go to the school weekly to read to classes and also served as mentors for selected students. It was during this time that I thought it would be rewarding to return to school and receive my teaching certification. I completed the coursework and began teaching in August 1999. It turned out to be one of the best moves of my life.
There are few jobs in the world that give a person an opportunity to give something back to the community and hopefully change some lives along the way. My decision to enter the education profession has proven to be one of the best decisions I have ever made. The validation of my decision comes every day when I look into the eyes of a young man or woman. I have students who are in desperate need of the gifts and qualities that I possess. I haven’t found financial wealth in education and probably never will, however I have become rich beyond measure through my experiences and encounters with my students.
Dawn Bickerstaff
Loretto Elementary School, Fourth Grade
I believe I was born to teach. From the first time someone asked me, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” I replied, “A teacher.” However, my journey into teaching took a few detours. Family, friends and even my high-school guidance counselors advised me against a teaching career. “There’s no money in teaching. Besides the job market’s flooded with teachers, you’ll never get a job.” So by the time I got to college, I had decided to rethink my career options.
In 1981, I graduated from Penn State with a degree in journalism and headed off to New York City to become a writer. Where did I end up? I took a job in educational publishing writing textbooks and software. Sure, I was a writer, but I was writing for teachers. In my free time I volunteered as a New York City literacy tutor. My hobby had become teaching!
In 1989, I married, relocated to Jacksonville, and became a stay-at-home mother of three. When my youngest child entered first grade and I felt I could go back to work, I once again turned to teaching.
My teaching career started here at Loretto in what I fondly refer to as my “baptism-by-fire” year. Due to the tragic circumstances of a colleague, I filled in as the alternative-education teacher for the S.T.A.R. program. My mission was to help eighteen fourth- and fifth-grade students with multiple retentions and a whole lot of baggage pass the FCAT. Much to my own amazement, it happened. At the end of that first year, one of my students came to me and said, “Thanks, Mrs. B. You make me feel like a regular kid.” That did it! I was hooked. I taught the S.T.A.R. class for two more years. Over a period of three years and a combined total of 53 students, 38 met promotional requirements, and fifteen earned double promotions. We were on fire!
This year I am feeling very excited and refreshed, as I teach a standard fourth-grade class. I truly love my job and I love being involved. This year marks my tenth year on the Loretto School Advisory Council, my seventh year on the PTA board and my second year as a Target Team advisor. I am a member of the superintendent’s newly formed District Diversity Council, and I have most recently joined with several colleagues to plan and test a new Collaborative Coaching/Teaching Cycle that is designed to improve student FCAT performance. I also plan to take advantage of the new Take One! Program as a first step in working toward my National Board Certification.
So as you can see, it has taken me a few years, but I have come full circle. Finally, I can say “I’m a teacher.” To know that I am also a nominee for teacher of the year is rather incredible to me.
I sincerely thank you for the compliment!
Deitra Demps
Paxon Middle, Sixth-Grade Language Arts
As many young people do in life, I began my career running away from my destiny. Although surrounded by educators, I made a decision to major in advertising/communications at the University of Texas at Austin. After spending several years in the financial industry, I finally decided to explore my desire to work with children.
I entered the teaching profession in 2003 and have never regretted this decision. Throughout my four years of teaching, I have had the opportunity to change some of my students’ outlooks on life, and I have experienced the sheer joy of watching children’s excitement grow as their understanding of literature contributes to their appreciation of the world around them.
Participating in children’s development and enhancing their knowledge and life skills has been its own reward. One of my students recently told me that I am like the teacher in the movie Freedom Writers. She said that I always go the extra mile and I don’t even know it. To reach children in this manner and make a difference in their lives is why I chose the teaching profession. I wouldn’t consider doing anything else.
John G. Hegeman
Stanton High School, Physics
I have taught high-school physics for eight years. Prior to entering the teaching profession, I was a career U.S. Navy officer. During the twenty years I served, I was stationed on a total of eight ships, three of which I had the honor of commanding. In addition, I did a tour as operations officer for Destroyer Squadron Eight and a tour as an NROTC instructor at Villanova University. After retiring in 1991, I worked at Jacksonville University for several years as the university's textbook manager. One of the education professors repeatedly encouraged me to get into teaching.
I have been fortunate to have had excellent results with my students during my years teaching. I think my experience in the Navy has given me a leg up as an educator. It taught me to be goal oriented but also to be flexible. I often tell the students that they need to adapt, improvise and overcome to succeed not only in physics but also in life. I try to make my class informative, relevant and enjoyable. I think when the students enjoy coming to class they will be much more likely to learn the material. I share their joy in entering the classroom each day.
Kathleen Behrens
North Shore Elementary, First Grade
I quit my job as an accounting manager/assistant treasurer for Friendship Dairies, Inc. in order to be home with my children. When my daughter entered kindergarten, I decided it was time for me to return to work. I dreaded the thought of working sixty hours a week and commuting. As a PTA mom, I enjoyed the time I spent in school with the children, finding first graders the most appealing. They combined the gift of innocence with the ability to carry on a real conversation. All of my expectations and hopes for teaching were surpassed when I was handed a class full of my own children.
So many of my business skills have been so very useful, particularly in areas of where specific and detailed anecdotal records are needed. I’ve used organizational skills to set up and maintain my daily schedule and to keep order of all the materials necessary to teach these days. (How did we learn in the 1970s without all these manipulatives?)
In the 1990s, I experienced the down-sizing of companies. It was very depressing. At Friendship Dairies, I was responsible for hiring and training employees within the accounting department. It was so frustrating to see so many individuals who could not comprehend, lacked organizational skills, could not get along with other people or lacked work ethic.
Teaching is a much more positive environment. Your classroom is what you make it. I really believe I have been afforded the opportunity to make a real difference by teaching. As an educator, I can positively affect the attitude of a child and help him attain the life skills that will enable him to lead a productive life. Even if outside forces make it difficult for that child, at least I know that I have made the effort to make it better for him.
Mark Ashman
A. Philip Randolph Academy of Technology, Mathematics
I spent nineteen years on Wall Street and was working at Goldman Sachs when I lost my friends in the September 11th terrorist attack. My focus in life was making money and more money. If you did not understand technology, stocks or real estate, my interest in you was limited. Becoming a teacher has brought new focus and balance to my life.
I get a feeling of satisfaction now when a student who has been labeled or told over the years that he can’t do math finally grasps a concept and gains confidence in his ability to learn. Money could never buy this kind of satisfaction. One day a student said, "Why are you here with us in Jacksonville when you could be in New York? Why do you care about us?" That comment touched my heart and made me realize I was in the right profession. I explained to this student that I believe in him and my purpose is to help him as well as other kids like him.
One of the administrators at my school said to me, "Mr. Ashman, the kids are requesting your class for next semester. They say you are strict but teach them how to understand the material and you care about their success." Hopefully my time as a teacher can influence a young person's life. Before September 11th I only helped myself. now I'm giving back to the future of our country.
Summer Youngblood
Hyde Grove Elementary School, Third Grade
I started out in the news business right after college, working for a local news affiliate as a producer. Daily deadlines, research and writing were a way of life for me for about a year and a half. Around the end of that time, I realized producing wasn’t really for me, I just didn’t go home feeling good about what I was doing every day. It was then that I began to think about my experiences volunteering in friends’ classrooms in town and began looking into what it would take for me to have my own classroom.
Now, after a few tests, some hard work and patience, I am teaching third grade inclusion in Jacksonville, and I am LOVING it. I truly cannot see myself doing anything else. It is definitely the most work I’ve ever had to do in my life, but also the most fulfilling. Making the transition from the business world to the classroom had its challenges, but I go home every day feeling good about what I am doing, and I cannot say enough about what a wonderful impact that has had on my life.
Tracy Rogers
Crown Point Elementary School, Elementary Education
Before becoming an educator, I was a manager for a Fortune 500 company and an entrepreneur. When we decided to start a family, I knew I wanted to stay at home with my children. As my second child entered school, I thought long and hard about what I wanted to do with my days. I knew I wanted to work again but I wanted a job that would be more conducive to my family’s lifestyle. I remembered how in the past I had put in some long, grueling hours. The nature of my degree would often have me on business trips for days at a time. Knowing that would not work at this point in my life, I began to look at teaching.
At first consideration, I thought it wouldn’t work. I believed that teachers are a “chosen” group. They must be called to such a profession much the same a minister is called to his career. Rearing just two children posed daily challenges; how could I work with 25 or more?
So, I decided to wade my way into the idea. I began as a substitute teacher. I worked at many different schools, with many different grade levels. I observed their thirst for knowledge and acceptance. I knew then that I could and wanted to do it.
I have been teaching full time for four years, and I am constantly challenged. As with parenting, I feel I have never had a harder or more important and fulfilling job than I have now. This is not a job for the faint at heart. You will be called to perform some incredible feats. But the feelings you have as you see your students move to the next level knowing that you played a part in their growth, is a feeling like none other.
