What inspired you to be a teacher?
I was fortunate to have a lot of very good teachers growing up in central Indiana. I volunteered to help tutor mathematics to the junior high kids and I enjoyed it from the start. I also played high school basketball and really enjoyed helping younger kids and younger teammates learn the fundamentals. I guess you could say the inspiration began there, though I took a temporary detour. I went to Indiana University (Go Hoosiers) for a business degree and started a career in the private sector. Sadly, less than two years after graduating from IU, I lost my father suddenly. Ron Nixon was a business professional who left me with a small sum of insurance money, a broken heart, and a reflecting spirit. I used that insurance money to go back to school to earn my teaching credentials. I’ve been a teacher ever since. (Thanks, Dad. I still love you and miss you very much!)
What are your goals as a teacher?
I think most teachers would agree that our goals include helping our students become knowledgeable in our subject area and preparing them to be successful in life. If I can get students to enjoy math class at least a little bit (yes, I just said that,) to believe in their own abilities, and to challenge them with the mathematics, then I’ve reached my goals.
What would your students be surprised to find out about you?
I once failed a math course in college. Shhh.
How do you show your school spirit?
My favorite thing is to wear Newsome gear out and about – especially t-shirts I’ve purchased from students with their names on the back.
Is there a quote or saying that you live by?
“A house divided cannot stand.” Those words are attributed to the great United States President, Abraham Lincoln (though I think Lincoln had his own source of inspiration for those words.) Our country would greatly benefit if all Americans would take greater care to conduct our lives in a manner consistent with the spirit of that quote. A close second would be, “Give and it will be given back to you ….”
Bloomingdale/FishHawk Teacher of the Month is sponsored by Brenda Wade at Signature Realty
