More Than A Teacher

One of the kindest teachers I’ve ever met is Mrs. Monteith, who has a reputation for making every student feel seen and supported. From the moment you walk into her classroom, you can sense the warmth and genuine care she has for her students. Whether it’s staying after school to help someone understand a difficult assignment or simply offering a few kind words on a tough day. As I prepare to interview them, I’m excited to learn more about what inspires her kindness and how she has maintained such a positive presence in education. 

Mrs. Monteith really loves her job. She enjoys teaching history and being around her students. Monteith thinks her greatest strength as a teacher is her ability to build relationships with her students. In her own words she said ¨I think it is important to relate to kids on their level, especially high school students. While teenagers are not adults, they often find themselves with grown up problems¨. I asked her what she thinks is the most important lesson to teach and she said the ability to think critically and develop their own options, and understanding what you believe in and why you believe in it. Monteith tries to handle classroom discipline and disruptive behavior with humor and grace, that is until the situation becomes so out of hand that it renders ¨a stage 5 crashout, at which point i am no longer my best self¨ said Monteith. 

Something I really love about Mrs. Monteith is her care for the students. In her first few days of teaching here at galena she would struggle with getting into power struggles with a few students. She came to realize that as a teacher you already have the power… it is your job to relate to students and adapt to their needs, which she is very good at. Mrs. Monteith loves teaching at Galena High School. She loves the kids, and the opportunity to grow with the students as they move through the grades and get older. Monteith has been with most of the current senior class since 8th grade, that isn't something many educators can say. I asked her what extracurricular activities or clubs could you contribute to or do and most people understand that she has zero athletic ability… however she's very good at planning party events, so being the prom sponsor plays to her strengths. Another question i asked was what book, article, or researcher has most influenced her teaching and she responded with ¨ I thought I understood the value of education but it wasn’t until I read the book Educated by Tara Westover that I realized how transformational education can be in terms of life circumstances and the way you view the world¨. 

In conclusion, Mrs. Monteith has had a lasting impact on my life, but not just me. She has had an impact on a lot of students' lives. Not just by helping us succeed in the classroom, but by inspiring us to believe in ourselves. Her patience, encouragement, and passion for teaching made learning enjoyable and meaningful. I will always be grateful for the lessons she taught me, both academically and personally. She didn’t just teach, she made a difference. She is More Than A Teacher.

By: Senior, Ava Watson