"Teaching With A Purpose"

As I dropped my daughter off at high school this morning, I began thinking about all the great teachers she has had over the past several years. I am not a teacher because I do not think I was blessed with the gift to educate young people on a daily basis but I am truly amazed and appreciative of those that are blessed with that gift....Yes…teaching is a gift. Now, my daughter is my joy. I love her so very much. She is talented, funny, beautiful and intelligent and I have always wanted the very best for her when it comes to her educational needs. Taylor has had so many teachers that have built into her, supported her, cheered her on and on many of occasions have even showed her mercy and grace when she may not have deserved it .

One teacher in particular comes to mind this year. Mr. Todd Forman teaches math at MND High School in Cincinnati. Now, Taylor has never cared much for math and she still does not do that well, but for the first time since she started learning to count, she actually never complains about going to math class. Mr. Forman allows my little drama queen to vent and cry to him about whatever is on her mind and doles out pretty good advice for a “guy.” Mr. Forman is more than just an individual who happened to choose being a teacher as his occupation and a way to earn a paycheck for his family.

Besides teaching our children, teachers also act as counselor’s and sometimes even parents to our children. I am confident that Mr. Forman has had to counsel students who are fighting over a boy or a girl (yes Taylor I am talking about you again) and has had to handle very confidential issues that students come to him with. I know for a fact based on the number of times this year Taylor has walked out of the house without her lunch that he has taken money out of his own pocket to make sure she has lunch so she can concentrate during her afternoon classes.

I believe teaching is not really 'just a job.' It is more like a crusade born of a real desire to help others. The rewards of a teacher more often than not come not in the form of a high salary but in the form of small and large victories accomplished by young people like Taylor who Mr. Forman has spent his life helping to educate. It is quite obvious to me that teaching and serving others is his passion. In his spare time…lol…he is very involved with taking youth on Service and Mission Trips and is active with Student Philanthropy Organization. He is not only teaching math but also teaching young people the importance of serving others. Mr. Forman actually lives in friendship and fellowship with his students.

I am sure there are teachers out there who may look at the occupation as just a job or something to do until a better offer comes along and not one of us could ever blame a teacher for those thoughts when we think about the plight of our kids today. It takes a person such as Mt. Notre Dame’s Mr. Forman who is willing to fill many roles for little pay; who knows all of the negatives of the profession and loves the job and the kids regardless! That is a teacher! And today, I want to say thank you to Mr. Forman and all the wonderful educators through the years who have taught my daughter, supported her and raised her up while encouraging her uniqueness and setting her on a path of purpose.

A scripture from the book of Romans says “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28. I encourage anyone reading this to thank a teacher today because they are truly loved and called for a purpose.