Give a shout out to your teachers.

Since I have become a father of school age children I have been thinking back on teachers that made an impact in my life.

Shout out to all the teachers that saw who we could be long before we ever did.

Who were your teachers that made a mark?

I will start.

Kenny Correll 6-7 grade teacher who saw through my E36 M3 and said "I have seen your test scores. You can do the work. If you do not turn in all your work I will bust your ass. Do you understand me?" Vietnam vet, had both legs blown off from a Bouncing Betty. He would have made more money sitting on a river bank fishing, yet he did his part to help bring up the youth of society to be responsible individuals.

Sheila Benedetto 4 grade - Showed compassion and instilled a love of learning, but not necessarily the homework. See above.

Lisa Ogle High School Advanced mathematics Made math fun. Really missed her in college.

Helen Briggs - High School Biology teacher that taught me science and how to look at the world objectively. I just wish I would have learned to apply that to more of my life sooner.

There are obviously more teachers out there that made me who I am but these four stick out and deserve a little recognition.

My 10th grade english teacher. She told me that I would be lucky to work in a gas station pumping gas for a living. Her statement didn't impact me at all at the time because I realized she was an idiot, but looking back on it all now, I find it to be one of my favorite teacher stories. Thanks Mrs Lantz.

There actually were some that were a positive influence on me. Mr. Dennis (Chemistry II), Mr. Sapp (Physics) and Mr. Daniels (Creative Writing) all were forces for good in their own ways. Most of my junior high and grade school teachers, I'd just like to apologize to and thank them for putting up with me.

Geez, I can't even remember the names of any of my teachers. I'm terrible at life.

Nick (LUCAS) Comstock wrote: Geez, I can't even remember the names of any of my teachers. I'm terrible at life.

We have been over this Comstock...the word is OLD.

I had a first grade teacher that was legitimately crazy. She was horrible, mean, and spiteful. She said of me, to my parent's faces, "I will break him."

I was pulled from that school and moved to a different one. I don't remember my subsequent teacher's name, but third grade was a Mrs Phillips. She taught me that teachers aren't all horrible people and that school doesn't have to be a place to fear.

That first grade teacher managed to make my life long relationship with teachers complicated. When I got a very strict German woman as my fifth grade teacher it did not go well. Her intentions were very good but it didn't play well with my personality and past. I did some bad things that I regret (written notes to her) and was moved to Mr Stacy's class where I flourished. But from the bottom of my heart, Mrs Marcinek, I am sorry for everything. I know you meant well. Unfortunately I can't write her a good note any more as I'm sure she's passed away. That was 28 years ago and she was elderly then.

Teachers can suck but I do not envy them their jobs!

Mrs. Pelley, 8th grade science teacher who went above, beyond and sideways: We learned astronomy, chemistry, scientific method and how to write a 15-page research paper with footnotes and bibliography. And she somehow managed to squeeze in units on the effect of greenhouse gases on climate change (in 1974!) as well as one on basic engine and auto tech (out in the 90-degree parking lot peering underneath and under the hood of her car for part of it). She was feared and abhorred. Passed away before I ever got the chance to tell her I was eternally grateful, because she sparked my interest in cars. Amazing where you will go if you are given a basic understanding of something.

Margie

My experience is the toughest teachers have been the best.

But, I had a math/physics teacher (Doc Moore)who was an incredible man and teacher. When he was younger, something happened health wise and the doctor asked him if he wanted to be in a sitting position or a standing position for the rest of his life. He chose standing. When I had him he was older. He was straight as an arrow and laid back in a chair and would write on the chalkboard. He drove an ancient Plymouth wagon and was stretched out while driving. He must have had hand controls, but I never looked inside it. My father called on him one day and he was on his tractor plowing his garden. He was an incredibly good teacher and put up with a lot of silliness without ever getting POed at us. You would see him at all the football games. This guy never whined or complained about the hand he was dealt in life. I suspect over one-half of all the high school annuals were dedicated to him.

I am not sure I had an truly inspirational teachers. I had a 5th Grade teacher that was very motivated (don't remember the name) and a sub in 8th grade that told us stories about Vietnam that he probably really shouldn't have.

My sister is a middle school teacher who accepts no excuses and expects the best out of her kids. She is currently in danger of getting fired because she is pushing back on a shift to the grading scale that makes more kids pass by moving the scale down (e.g. 40% is passing!)....

Dr. Lalone. She was shorter than I was as a 5th grader. I pissed her off so bad one day she snatched the door to the classroom open to send me to the office, all the door hinges pulled out of the frame and it hit the floor. Glass shattered and went everywhere. She stood there looking at the door for a minute. Then she started laughing. We teased her about that for the rest of the year. She earned the nickname, The Hulk that day.

I still hated school and everything about it, but I never did hate another teacher.

Mr. Steve Henrich. Metals 1,2,3,4 - Downers Grove South HS (IL). He basically had all the burnouts and geeks not headed to college. He treated us with respect and taught us the basics of running drill presses, lathes, grinders, milling machines, welding, sheet metal, spot welders, and a small foundry. Every once in a while he would toss us an off color joke or comment to remind us he saw us as young adults.

He took the group he was given and encouraged us. As a wide eyed 14 year old freshman I was blown away with what he taught us - like I could make my own screwdriver? Last I heard he was headed to work for OSHA.

Flight Service wrote:

Nick (LUCAS) Comstock wrote: Geez, I can't even remember the names of any of my teachers. I'm terrible at life.

We have been over this Comstock...the word is OLD.

After thinking all day I have come up with a name. Mr. Ponder. I can't tell you what he taught or what he looked like, but, I know I had a teacher named Mr. Ponder.

My teachers were all old farts who hated kids and teaching even more. (Not like the pretty, engaged, happy teachers my kids have.) I put in minimal effort and got straight A's, they never pushed for more. I was not a problem kid, so they generally ignored me.

The only one who stands out, the only one that I can even remember, is Mr O'Hara my high school art teacher. He was inspirational and taught me to push my limits and not do what everyone else did. He also let me work with my hands.

On second thought, I also remember Mr. Polacheck in 6th grade. He was a fishing guru who gave talks and was sponsored by Rapala. He asked my parents if he could take me to a fishing seminar once. He took me out to dinner and we talked about fishing, and I worked the door at his seminar and handed out free lures. It was just the two of us, a teacher mentoring his student and showing an interest outside of class. Can you imagine that today? People would freak out and think he was some kind of pedophile and call the police.