Kudos to 20 Years of Teaching Math!

Have I told you how proud I am of my hubby yet?

He’d literally roll his eyes if he heard me say that.

You see, he’s really rather quiet and unassuming…and does NOT accept praise well at all!  Which of course makes me want to give him his just rewards even more…

This man,

This sweet, gentle, quiet man…

This man that LOVES math like no one else I’ve ever seen…

Has just finished his 20th year of teaching!

To say that I admire this man is the understatement of the year…

You see, he chose this noble profession out of his love for Math and wanting to share it with students…

His Dad was also a teacher (who later became a principal and athletic director).

Tim, along with teaching, is an athletic director too.

The apple didn’t fall far from the tree.

And what a tree it is.

His Dad is a wonderful man and was a beloved teacher and principal.  (I’m sure he was a loved A.D. too, although the job doesn’t always get a lot of kudos.)

Timothy is a wonderful teacher.  (And the same sentiment goes with the A.D. job!)

And you don’t have to take my word for it…

His current students say it…

His former students say it…

And their parents say it.

And Alex and Sam have said it (they both had him as a teacher).

And soon Gabi will find out too.

His students have fun in his class:

Some have been known to “sleep” and yet they wake up just in time to give the correct answer. (Ben!)

All have enjoyed the moment he turned on Top Gun to show how Force Vectors can be fun. (It has something to do with how force vectors can affect one another and how wind would affect the speed of a plane.  I hate to say it, but this reminds me of how Charlie Brown hears his teachers lessons (whaa, whaa, whaa, whaa, whaaa…) meaning I don’t have a clue what a force vector is yet he talks about it like he thinks I do.  (Nod head yes and look interested.)

But I digress,

They all talk about when his entire class is on “Parabolas” (markers flying).

And most can remember him singing the math equation song to the tune of Pop Goes the Weasel.  (Some even remember the words!)

They love Pi Day when students literally bring in pies to share.

And some students catch him at the moments when he makes a mistake on the overhead projector and tells the kids to look at the bird out the window (so he can fix it without them seeing).

Some have kept a journal of all the “Tim-isms” (Dylan):  There’s Good Gravy…Carpe Diem (or “crap”e diem)…and select Slovenian words.

And there’s his singing of Scooby-Dooby-Doo…

I hear about all the fun times he has with his students, not from him but from his students…and I’m sure they can tell even more!

So here’s a big “Hip Hip Hooray” for Tim – known to his students as “Mr. O”!!!

And a heartfelt thank you to all the teachers here at our school (and beyond) – you are all AMAZING!

Thank you for all the hours you put in at school, and all the hours you put in at home for school…

For all the extra supplies you buy with your own money so your students can have what they need to learn, when the local district can’t afford them.

For all the attention you give our children…

The encouragement when they need it…

The discouragement when they need it (when they shouldn’t be doing something)…

And the support through all the challenges of growing up.

Know that we parents appreciate you.

And no I don’t think you’re paid enough…

Because there is not enough money in the world that could get me to do your job!

Enjoy your summer – whether you get time to relax, or like many – take on a summer job.  You deserve a break!

I love you honey…

And I’m so proud of you and your 20 years of teaching.

Love,

Me.

(Patty O)