To All The Teachers I’ve Known Before…

One of the most fun things I do a couple of times a week is turn some of my memories into a printed book with audio and video clips. It is a simple process in which I receive a weekly email prompt with questions. I then click the link and record audio or video answers. AI then converts these recordings into a physical, hardcover book with pictures and stories from my life for my kids and grandkids.

When I read this morning’s life story (Remento) prompt, “Who was a teacher from school that helped shape your life,” the lyrics to a song by Willie Nelson and Julio Iglesias came to mind. I will leave it to you to identify the song. 

A tribute to all the teachers I’ve known before…

To all the teachers I’ve known before. Who traveled in and out of my door, I'm glad you came along; it’s because of you that I am still going strong.

To all the teachers I’ve stressed, may I say you are the best for helping me to grow, I owe you a lot, I know.

To all the teachers who care, I’m thankful you took the time to share

To all the teachers I’ve known before, I'm so glad you came along, and to you I dedicate this poem

Dorothea Dix said it best, "The duties of a teacher are neither few nor small, but they elevate the mind and give energy to the character.” Looking back, I realize that the great teachers in my life didn’t simply teach me subjects; they quietly shaped the way I see — and still see — the world today, teaching me how to think for myself, how to question, and how to approach challenges.

A Teacher With Lots Of Love And Drove A Studebaker...

The first teacher that came to mind was my first teacher. Even though our time together was brief, I can still remember her name, what her car looked like (a 1956 Studebaker), and that she lived on the hill in Lake City, Tennessee, behind the Gulf station.

Why do I remember those details after sixty-six years? Because Mrs. Blackaby, my first-grade teacher at Laurel Grove Elementary School in Briceville, Tennessee, would take a poor, chubby little boy home with her on weekends and spoil him. I realize that in this day and age, even with a parent’s permission, her acts of love and kindness would be seen as inappropriate. Through her example, Mrs. Blackaby showed that there are people outside our immediate family who care about us and whom we can trust.

Because I went directly into first grade at 5 years old and attended three different elementary schools by the time I reached third grade, and because I had a severe speech impediment, my reading and writing skills were well below those of a third grader.

A Teacher That Cared Enough To Make Me Repeat A Year

Although I don't recall my third-grade teacher's name, and I have only a vague memory of her appearance, I do remember that my 3rd teacher thought so highly of me that she kept me in her class for two years. Yes, she did something my other teachers did not take the time to do. She held me back one year and enrolled me in a speech therapy class for two years. From that point forward, until my sophomore year in high school, when girls became my main focus, to the best of my recollection, I never earned anything less than an A or B grade.

Most importantly, my 3rd-grade teacher significantly shaped my communication skills and the confidence I still have when interacting with others today.

Mr. Black, my 6th-grade teacher, stood about 6'3" tall and weighed around 250 pounds. He had one of those deep, commanding voices that could be quite intimidating. However, to me, he was just the opposite. He believed in me and convinced me that I was a leader.

Going into Mr. Black’s class, he immediately promoted me to Captain of the School Guards. Hey, that was a big deal and was taken very seriously. I had to be there at 6:30, put on my gear, which consisted of a white Sam Browne belt, a sash worn over one shoulder and around the waist, and a metal badge. I would then march the other crossing guards to. Their posts, and then regularly check back with them to make sure everything was going as planned. And if they were caught messing around, they got kicked out…unless they are a pretty girl.

Maya Angelou once said, "People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."

A Teacher That Taught Me To Lead Others...

Mrs. Blackaby made me feel special and loved, helping to set up my relationship with Jesus. My third-grade teacher made me feel that there was nothing that I couldn’t overcome, certainly preparing me for those dark days of cancer. Mr. Black showed me that I could be a leader by serving and encouraging others.

Teacher That Taught Me With Few Words And A Piece Of Wood...

Other teachers emphasized discipline and structure, which are vital to becoming the best version of yourself; Coach Wright, the principal at my high school, was one such teacher. I made more than one trip to his office. With very few words and a flat piece of wood, he should show me the cost of being disrespectful.

As I sat here thinking about how to end this post, it came to me: “Once a teacher, always a teacher.” For those truly called to teach, it is a lifelong vocation, passion, and mindset rather than just a job. Even outside the classroom, former educators often continue to mentor, guide, and support others, using their skills to foster growth and share knowledge within their communities.

Perhaps that is why, throughout my life and even today, some of my closest and dearest friends have been and continue to be teachers.

Gilbert Elementary School In Cleveland, Ohio

A 1956 Studebaker