Education
Education
20
20
0
Why am I a teacher?
I got an unexpected e-mail from a former student of mine who finished high school this past December. Read it and tell me why a teacher wouldn't try to go the extra mile for a student to save themself from themself. I'm sure I haven't been successful with all my students, but when I am I celebrate that victory in my mind and, it makes me glad I didn't give up on them.
The term used in this e-mail, "iss" means "in school suspension" which this student got on a regular basis, but I often pulled her from ISS and then she went back to ISS when the lecture part of the class ended. Some days, time permitting, I went to ISS to check up on her and give her one-on-one help during my planning period. Topper Academy is the alternative school part of Science Hill High School where they send students who are problematic or have done something really bad and they want them away from the main student body.
Her e-mail is below.
Hello Mr. Burk! I’m not sure if you remember me, but I was in your first period algebra class the 2nd semester of my freshman year (2023). During that time I was a horrible kid. I skipped class, always was late, didn’t turn in much work, got iss 24/7, and on top of it all I was abusing substances. I ended up getting caught with substances on my person and suspended. Shortly after, though, I got an email from you expressing your disappointment in me and how you thought you saw improvement in me—also mentioning your rough childhood (that I had already known about due to conversations in class). I’m emailing you today (ik 3 years later in February of 2026) to let you know you changed my life forever. I was going through a lot and didn’t have a good social or home life. I was in a physically abusive relationship, and my parents hated me due to my substance use and constant disregard for their feelings, so they disregarded mine. You didn’t do that. I always have struggled with math (and always probably will but you made sure to pull me out of iss to give me the learning I deserved. You made sure to give me extra points on an assignment, so I could pass my freshman year. You took notice of when I was depressed and “sleepy” (drugged up) in class. You were overall an above and beyond teacher. When you sent that email after my suspension, I had realized there WERE people who cared and NOTICED. I’m sober, and I graduated high school on december 17th, 2025, my 17th birthday
I got an unexpected e-mail from a former student of mine who finished high school this past December. Read it and tell me why a teacher wouldn't try to go the extra mile for a student to save themself from themself. I'm sure I haven't been successful with all my students, but when I am I celebrate that victory in my mind and, it makes me glad I didn't give up on them.
The term used in this e-mail, "iss" means "in school suspension" which this student got on a regular basis, but I often pulled her from ISS and then she went back to ISS when the lecture part of the class ended. Some days, time permitting, I went to ISS to check up on her and give her one-on-one help during my planning period. Topper Academy is the alternative school part of Science Hill High School where they send students who are problematic or have done something really bad and they want them away from the main student body.
Her e-mail is below.
Hello Mr. Burk! I’m not sure if you remember me, but I was in your first period algebra class the 2nd semester of my freshman year (2023). During that time I was a horrible kid. I skipped class, always was late, didn’t turn in much work, got iss 24/7, and on top of it all I was abusing substances. I ended up getting caught with substances on my person and suspended. Shortly after, though, I got an email from you expressing your disappointment in me and how you thought you saw improvement in me—also mentioning your rough childhood (that I had already known about due to conversations in class). I’m emailing you today (ik 3 years later in February of 2026) to let you know you changed my life forever. I was going through a lot and didn’t have a good social or home life. I was in a physically abusive relationship, and my parents hated me due to my substance use and constant disregard for their feelings, so they disregarded mine. You didn’t do that. I always have struggled with math (and always probably will but you made sure to pull me out of iss to give me the learning I deserved. You made sure to give me extra points on an assignment, so I could pass my freshman year. You took notice of when I was depressed and “sleepy” (drugged up) in class. You were overall an above and beyond teacher. When you sent that email after my suspension, I had realized there WERE people who cared and NOTICED. I’m sober, and I graduated high school on december 17th, 2025, my 17th birthday
Teaching
Education
Drugs
Edited 2 d ago
Posted 2 d ago
Responses: 16
12
12
0
Cpl Vic Burk I can relate. After I did not laterally convert my training and education in Computer Programming over to the education system, I lost touch with the students. But years later, even two years ago, I met them in different places. They recognized me and approached me. Three of the four I came across, we t on to college to major in some area of computers and the other one was working in retail, at a large mall.
(12)
(0)
12
12
0
9
9
0
And that is why we don't give up. I am so proud of you...and her. It takes a great deal of guts to tell the truth ...both ways. You to tell her she was better than she thought she was...but her actions were a dead end. And her for figuring out it was her causing the problems in her life. Fighting back against both peer pressure AND drugs while just a teen, needs that strong Mentor to step up and believe in you. I salute you with a razor hand!
(9)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google