Teacher Tales #14 – The real rewards of teaching, staying motivated and the importance of the school culture – Carmen: Role model for students, teacher of teachers, technology guru and Spanish teacher in N.C.

In this episode, we have the opportunity to meet Carmen, a teacher with a heart of gold and a radiant smile. Carmen teaches in a rural community of North Carolina, but she says that every day she wants to show her students the world of possibilities beyond where they live. Carmen says she doesn’t go to work every day, but rather, she tells people that she “goes to school” because that is where she gets to be a role model and inspiration to her students through care, compassion and love. She says she is a “people person” and really works on the “person” in her interpersonal connections and communication. Carmen reminds us that behind that desk, behind that computer screen and behind that mask, there is a person…a developing human being who needs to be seen, heard and valued. Teaching is her purpose in life, and she fulfills that purpose every day with a heart of gold that places a little treasure in the hearts of every one of her students to help them see their potential and take risks to grow. Finally, and most profoundly, she says, “it’s never about WHAT we teach; it is always about WHO we teach”. Amen, sister! Listen and let Carmen bring a warm smile to your face as you tap back into those heartfelt rewards of teaching.