Teachers: they have, arguably, one of the most important jobs in society. Without them, civilization would be left in the dark, and they might not even know the difference between two plus two and World War Two.
At OHS, teachers take their job seriously, knowing that, without their position in society, teenage students would not become the citizens they have the potential to be.
“I work hard for [the students], and I know [they] work hard, too,” said Micaela Corponi, English teacher.
Teachers do not just put in the effort for themselves. Their determination is also noticeable to their students.
“It definitely seems… important to [teachers] that everyone’s doing the best that they can be,” said Sullivan Doss, sophomore.
The effort they put into their jobs is not all they do to be hard-working; they also help their students out in any way they can.
“[Teachers] understand your situation, try to give you the best advice, and try to help you out the best [they] can,” said Nicolas Mutti, junior.
This care for the students is not forced, but rather, it comes naturally from the teacher.
“I don’t [try] hard to intentionally show my students I care, but I think it’s just that I do care,” Corponi said.
The care teachers have for their students is the cause of their strong work ethic, along with being the core contributor to their philosophies.
“I think that [a great teacher] truly see[s] the kids as individuals and… more than just a grade…,” said Corponi. “They see [the students] as the potential human being[s] that they can be.”
The choice to focus on students as people, not scores, solidifies the importance of these caring principles.
“[Teachers] understand that… students have a mental health, and they try to [make sure it is healthy],” Mutti said. “It happens with all of my teachers, [and] it shows they truly care.”
A teacher’s care for the students does not stop at just checking in on them. They also push students to their full potential, even if the student thinks it is too hard to achieve.
“As a teacher, [we know] that our kids are so much more capable than what they think of themselves,” Corponi said.
In-class expectations are known to help improve a student’s educational abilities, but a lesser-known reason for making these is that having something to strive for is motivational and helps bring change.
“I believe in meeting [each student] where they are at, but I also think that expectations should be placed, because we all need something to strive for,” Corponi said.
Teachers know that their motivation for students can be helpful, allowing students to recognize the bar that has been set and strive to reach it.
“My teachers… [help] me on a daily [by] encouraging me to be better,” Doss said.
Another way teachers show their care for students is by redirecting them if they have become off-task.
“If I’m… needing help focusing, I can rely on my teachers to help guide me back to a position where I’m working more efficiently,” Doss said.
In any case, OHS’s teachers look after every one of their students, no matter what. And while they are known for educating on topics like math, English, history, and science, they also teach life lessons to the students, mentoring them throughout the campus.
“Ultimately, I consider the role of a teacher to be a mentor, both in the content level, but also… [by] being a good human…,” Corponi said.
