I often speak to teachers about something I hope they know: they have immense impact on their students and it does not take long to change someone’s life forever.
When I was a senior in high school, I had a teacher for College Western Civilizations named Charlotte Read. She was also the yearbook moderator and, that year, I was the Editor-in-Chief.
As I remember, Ms. Read had a degenerative issue with her eyesight and, before the end of the first semester, she had to retire. I am not sure that I have the details correct, but she left school before Christmas and we had a new College Western Civ teacher and a new yearbook moderator.
This was well over 30 years ago and here is what I remember: I remember Ms. Read making me feel smart and competent. I remember her empowering me. I remember her giving me confidence. I remember her making me a better person.
I had her in class for less than 3 months.
Ms. Read, you were part of my educational journey and you changed my life.
We never know the influence we have… While culture tends to promulgate the “those who can, do, those who cannot, teach” idiocy, there are hundreds of examples of brilliance and impactful teachers in reality and in pop culture. Every-other-week this year, I will share my brief reflections on Smart People Doing Smart Things be they in literature, in film, in music or in real life. Many will be teachers, but not all. Many will be fictional, but some will be real. All will be inspiring. Welcome to IntelliPop!
