When you are an education major, you must complete hours in a classroom to gain hands-on experience before entering the field. Unpaid hours (a whole other issue) turn you from a student to a full-time teacher. As a part of the CARE program, which allows me over 200 hours of experience starting sophomore year, I have gained valuable information that I will take with me for the rest of my life.
This information is what I have learned from the incredible and underappreciated teachers at Federal Hocking High School and Middle School. The teachers and staff are the heartbeat of the district and they deserve immense respect and appreciation.
Federal Hocking School District is located in Stewart and was founded in 1818. The district serves more than 200 students and is located in Athens County. With over 10% of Stewart living below the poverty line, Federal Hocking is eligible for Title I funding and 97% of students are eligible for free lunch.
In a county where resources are limited, teachers become the overwhelming force that rockets students toward success. Often I watch as teachers play many different roles: they act as counselors, coaches, mentors, friends, family and sometimes the only source of true care a child receives. They understand that education is more than just exams and test scores, it is about the whole student.
Teachers work to not let economic disparities affect their students. They create lesson plans that value each student, meet them where they are and push them to do more. Federal Hocking staff faces challenges, yet does not let that beat them down. Instead, they rise above.
The teachers at Federal Hocking I work with have taught me what it means to be an incredible teacher. They are dedicated to what they do and come in every single day determined to make a difference. They are completely selfless and constantly put the personal and academic needs and concerns of their students before themselves.
Most importantly, they care deeply. They know who their students are inside and outside the classroom and make them feel loved and appreciated. They attend their sporting events, know what their weekend plans are, tell them they love them, push them to their fullest potential and show them they care. The teachers at Federal Hocking deserve to be appreciated in the same way they appreciate their students.
I feel grateful to be a part of a close-knit district that tirelessly works to improve the livelihoods of the student body. My mentor teachers have taught me what it means to be a good teacher and a good human being, filled with empathy and compassion.
Federal Hocking is more than a Title I school district, it is a place where students look out for each other, friends are family, the community is at the center and teachers lead the way to transforming their student's lives. Their tireless effort deserves more appreciation and an overwhelming amount of respect. They are deeply deserving of respect and appreciation because of their efforts in and outside of the classroom to make students feel loved, appreciated and successful.
Clara Leder is a junior studying education and journalism at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnist do not reflect those of The Post. What are your thoughts? Let Clara know by emailing her at cl125221@ohio.edu.
