As we celebrate National Teacher Appreciation Week, UTC wants to recognize how amazing teachers are. Many UTC faculty and staff members have had life-changing experiences with teachers that influenced their career paths, cultivated their passions, and taught them lessons they have carried with them throughout the years.
I personally had several teachers who influenced my life greatly. I think of my second-grade teacher, Mrs. Brantley, who has continued to check on me years after leaving her classroom. I think of teachers who propelled my passions both inside and outside of the classroom. My first-grade teacher, Mrs. Kaylor, grew my love for reading exponentially; my fourth-grade teacher, Dr. Brown, propelled my love for the arts by directing musicals and hosting acting classes after school.
Even later in life, I think of my middle school teacher, Dr. Robinson, whose encouragement influenced me to become more confident, and my college professor, Dr. Lamb, who challenged me my freshman year to dream big on professional and personal levels. And, of course, my piano teacher, Mrs. Patti, was not only my teacher for over a decade, but a mentor and friend.
As I reflected on how teachers changed my life, I reached out to UTC faculty and staff members asking them about their favorite teachers and why they love them—and was touched by the answers given. Take a look at the many ways educators have left a mark on their students.
Laura Cagle is the Director of University Events for UTC.
Who is your favorite teacher you ever had?
My dad is a teacher-turned-administrator in my hometown school system, so he has always been my #1 favorite teacher! As far as teachers I’ve had for an actual class, Joanie Sompayrac is probably my favorite.
What subject or grade did they teach?
I had Dr. Sompayrac’s Business Ethics class during my undergrad at UTC. I think I was a sophomore when I took the class.
Why were they your favorite teacher?
Dr. Sompayrac had an innate ability to make even the most seemingly bland topics relevant and comprehendable. I remember her always placing an emphasis on real-life applications for whatever she was teaching us about.
What is the most valuable lesson you learned from your favorite teacher (school-related or otherwise?) While I certainly learned a lot about business law in her class, maybe the most important thing I took away from having her class was how crucial it is to find the humor in situations, even if it means laughing at yourself sometimes.
Enrique Vizoso is the owner of Vizoso Business Solutions, a manufacturing and supply chain consulting company, and is an instructor for UTC Center for Professional Education.
Who is your favorite teacher you ever had?
Mrs. Delgado
What subject or grade did they teach?
She was my high school chemistry teacher for both my sophomore and senior year. I took Chemistry and AP Chemistry from her!
Why were they your favorite teacher?
Mrs. Delgado taught with a high level of passion. Her focus went beyond her students’ learning material to simply pass a test. She wanted them to understand and apply knowledge. It certainly helped that I loved chemistry; I loved it because it helped me understand the inner workings of many things. Mrs. Delgado believed in me and gave me a lot of responsibilities around the chemistry laboratory. She teamed up with my Physics teacher and supported me to be the first student to graduate with AP certificates in both Chemistry and Physics.
What is the most valuable lesson you learned from your favorite teacher (school-related or otherwise?)
Work hard. Learning is a trial-and-error process. Do not be limited by rules or what other people think.
Renee Murley, Ed.D., is the Director for the School of Education at UTC.
Who is your favorite teacher you ever had?
Bailey Garland
What subject or grade did they teach?
Mr. Garland was my 10th-grade biology teacher.
Why were they your favorite teacher?
He had high expectations and pushed students to excel to achieve their very best. Students had to work hard to earn good grades. For me personally, he saw potential in me educationally and professionally. Even after high school, he continued to encourage and challenge me to achieve my goals.
What is the most valuable lesson you learned from your favorite teacher (school-related or otherwise?)
Strive for excellence and always work hard in every area of your life.
John Freeze is the Director for UTC Center for Professional Education.
Who is your favorite teacher you ever had?
Marvin Stewart
What subject or grade did they teach?
11th Grade World Geography
Why were they your favorite teacher?
Mr. Stewart was funny; he had a great sense of humor. And he always took time to listen. He would answer the most trivial questions and do so knowing full well that a few of us in his class were just teasing him (in a good-humored way). He inspired me, more than any other teacher, to become a teacher myself. He helped me further develop my love of history and geography.
What is the most valuable lesson you learned from your favorite teacher (school-related or otherwise?)
I remember we were doing a lesson on religion and culture, and it was the first time that I began to realize that different viewpoints aren’t bad. He challenged his students to think differently about the world, which was probably more difficult than I realized at the time. It gave me a greater appreciation for diversity in all aspects of life, and I think that’s the most valuable lesson that anyone can learn.
Stephanie Chastain is an instructor for UTC Center for Professional Education.
Who is your favorite teacher you ever had?
Dr. Harris
What subject or grade did they teach?
12th-grade Advanced English
Why were they your favorite teacher?
Dr. Harris had a passion for teaching. She was by far one of the most influential teachers I ever had. She had high demands of us and expected us to perform. She pushed us way further than we thought we were capable of.
What is the most valuable lesson you learned from your favorite teacher (school-related or otherwise?)
The most valuable lesson I learned from Dr. Harris is that what I thought was my best was not good enough. I could always do better. She taught us how to listen to her lectures, take notes, and ask relevant questions. Without her influence, I know I would have had a much more difficult time with college and any further learning opportunities.
Gina Stafford is the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Communications and Marketing at UTC.
Who is your favorite teacher you ever had?
Miss Gladys Sullivan
What subject or grade did they teach?
First grade
Why were they your favorite teacher?
She taught me to read, which opened an entirely new world to me. She instilled a love of learning in me that has lasted my entire life.
What is the most valuable lesson you learned from your favorite teacher (school-related or otherwise?)
As a six-year-old, I learned a lot from Miss Gladys that continues to serve me well:
Always do your best; listen at least as much as you talk; and treat others as you would like to be treated. Also, from my own experience with her, I learned from Miss Gladys that some teachers have the ability to establish a bond with a child—even at the young age of 6—that can last a lifetime.
Jeff Grant is the Marketing Coordinator for UTC Center for Professional Education.
Who is your favorite teacher you ever had?
Mrs. Cynthia Freeman
What subject or grade did they teach?
High School Senior Inquiry and Humanities
Why were they your favorite teacher?
Mrs. Freeman is the type of teacher who makes you question everything and challenges you to dig deeper. During her Senior Inquiry class, I finally felt like I woke up from the robotic routine of high school and began to challenge myself, to actually learn. Every day she would recite her favorite maxim, “We are dumb as sheep,” and that daily reminder told us not to follow the prescribed path but to explore new ideas. My time with Mrs. Freeman allowed me to learn more about myself, my dreams, and my passions.
She opened my eyes to concepts, books, and theories that I would have never stumbled upon on my own. For instance, she had our class read Ishmael by Daniel Quinn, which began shaping the way I saw humanity.
Mrs. Freeman instilled the want and desire to continually improve myself. She stressed the importance of reading nonfiction, a genre that I had previously avoided at all costs. Her message was simple: if I wanted to grow, I had to challenge myself to discover different perspectives and make connections. I still have one of my favorite assignments from Senior Inquiry. Mrs. Freeman had us design and write our own storybooks, chronicling our heroes, our dreams, and favorite memories. The book is a nice reminder of where I have been, but also where I hope to be.
What is the most valuable lesson you learned from your favorite teacher (school-related or otherwise?)
To this day, I hear Mrs. Freeman’s voice saying, “Sit at the front of the classroom.” Now, I haven’t always taken that advice, but more times than not, I have. Her reasoning is that by sitting at the front, you are making a commitment to yourself to learn. You are showing up and being present. It’s harder to be at the front and doze off.
I think her mantra transcends the classroom, though, as we need to show up in life. We can’t take a backseat and hope to experience emotions that prompt creativity, conversations that challenge us to do better, and moments of self-discovery that spark change.
Will Watson is the Program Coordinator for UTC Center for Professional Education.
Who is your favorite teacher you ever had?
Joe T. Wood
What subject or grade did they teach?
He was the Lexington County Schools Superintendent and my high school football coach
Why were they your favorite teacher?
While I never had Coach Wood as an actual teacher, he taught me more than most teachers ever could. As the head football coach of my high school and school system superintendent, he instilled qualities and traits in me that helped me grow as an individual, a leader, and as a team member. Coach Wood was a leader in the community and the school system but always made time for people he mentored over the years. I was fortunate enough to have Coach Wood as an influential figure in my life as I considered my post-secondary educational opportunities. In part to his influence and mentorship over the years, I decided to attend the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, which allowed me the opportunity to obtain two degrees and employment at UTC.
What is the most valuable lesson you learned from your favorite teacher (school-related or otherwise?)
Treat ALL people with respect. No matter who they are or what they look like, he made sure we treated everyone with the same level of respect. This understanding shaped me as I grew into a leader in the classroom, on the football field, and in the community.
Dr. Valerie Rutledge is the Dean of the College of Health, Education, and Professional Studies at UTC.
Who is your favorite teacher you ever had?
Mrs. Webb at Tyner High School
What subject or grade did they teach?
Senior English
Why were they your favorite teacher?
She believed her students were smart and capable and always wanted them to try to do their best, never settling for less.
What is the most valuable lesson you learned from your favorite teacher (school-related or otherwise?)
She was a perfect example, for me, of the value of someone who could influence her students by encouraging them, challenging them, and supporting them. She was a large part of the reason (among a number of other teachers) I chose to become an educator. I hope that at some point in my career I have had a similar impact on my students!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Hi! My name is Marah Whitaker (think Laura with an M). I am the Marketing Assistant for UTC Center for Professional Education. During the workday, I spend time writing blog posts, creating content for social media, developing email campaigns, and building relationships with our customer base. During my free time, you can find me getting lost in a good book, having spontaneous dance parties, playing piano, and going to Buffalo Wild Wings on Wing Night. Professionally and personally, I aspire to live by the Mr. Feeny quote, “Dream. Believe. Try. Do Good.” I strive to use my passions to serve others and contribute positively to the world around me.
Connect with me on LinkedIn.