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Written by VSTE Board member, Chanel Alford, chanelalford@vste.org, @cjamc80

When I was a child, I had absolutely no idea what I wanted to be when I grew up. As I grew older, I thought I would become a dentist. I soon realized that I did not like needles or blood, so that thought was quickly quelled. However, something was brewing in my parents’ backyard. Each afternoon, I would stand at the fence and play “school” with my neighbors. I would assist them with improving their math skills and help them with reading and grammar, which were my personal favorites. I began wondering if teaching was something I would like to pursue.

My first experience with a teacher was not a memorable one. My kindergarten teacher recognized that I had a speech impediment, and tried to separate me from the rest of my classmates with the belief that this somehow affected my cognitive abilities. My parents quickly stepped in and required that they test me. In astonishment, they discovered that I read on the fifth grade level. After this occurred, I was assigned to special teachers who would remove me from my classes throughout the day. We would read advanced books together, and I was enrolled in the S.P.A.C.E program with older students. As I think back, the experience with my kindergarten teacher was not a setback; I thank her for helping to propel me to where I was supposed to be academically.

For the remainder of my K-12 academic years, I was placed in additional classes in which I was challenged, but I am not sure that I always put forth my best effort. In high school, I met Mrs. Caperton, to whom I was assigned for Accelerated 12th grade and 13AP English classes. I can clearly remember Mrs. Caperton stating the following to my mom: “Chanel is possibly the brightest student in my class, but she has a grade of “B” because she is lazy”. I was appalled! However, I will share a secret with you all: I received a grade of “A” in English until I graduated from high school, and this continued throughout college. Yet another teacher had encouraged me to do my best. I also spent time volunteering in a classroom throughout my junior and senior years of high school to earn community service hours for my school’s Life Science Honors Program. The teacher was fresh out of college and was one of the most innovative I had ever seen. She encouraged teamwork through group activities, and had fun methods of learning math and science. I would like to thank this teacher, who happens to be my older sister, Carleen Alford, for inspiring me to be caring, fun, and excited about education.

As I salute the final teacher who impacted my life, I would like to note that she never served as my actual teacher, but I learned a great deal from her. Mrs. Hampton was my department chair at the high school where I taught Marketing and Fashion for seven years. On her final day of teaching, after spending forty-two years in the same school and classroom, she walked across the hall to my room and decided to spend the majority of that day with me. I was perplexed. She could have spent that day anywhere in the building. She asked for help with technology, and then stated, “I am spending the day with you because you are an excellent teacher, but you are in the wrong job”. She continued to discuss my technology skills with me, and we began discussing instructional technology. The next year, I left my teaching position, and I was quickly employed as an Instructional Technology Resource Teacher (ITRT). It has been one of the best decisions of my life, and I thank Ms. Hampton for seeing a capability in me that I never would have.

Since becoming an ITRT, I have been able to train and assist students and teachers while doing something that I love each day. I have even won a national award for my work. However, what I cherish the most are the relationships I have cultivated. I have spent the last six years in a school district where I am now called a Technology Integration Specialist (TIS). I wake up every day to a new adventure, and I get to solve problems and help others. My supervisor, along with our CTO, completely support me in all my endeavors and are very encouraging. I also work with brilliant and fun TIS team members. I am sure you have guessed it already, but everyone I mentioned is also a former teacher!

So fellow educators, I will assign you a task as this blog reaches its culmination. Please close your eyes and take a moment to think of your favorite teachers. Then thank them for all they have done. #ThankATeacher