I came across this old post on Facebook and thought I would share it here. Teachers have been so influential in my life.
I’ve had a lot of teachers! K-12, then 4.5 years as an undergrad, then 6 years for master’s, then 5 years for Ph.D. You have to love teachers to spend that much time in school, lol!
All those teachers! Ms. Rysavy, Mr. Hoelmer, Mrs. Schlichte, Mr. Brooks, Mr. Oraskovich, Mrs. Krumwiede, Mr. Dufault, Mr. Ayers, Mrs. Praxl, Mr. Williams, Mrs. Swanson, Mr. Bendix, Mr. Erickson, Mr. Vilt, Mr. Zwach, Mr. Bunkers, Mrs. Flanagan (and that’s just K-12!). Undergrad: Chuck Lewis, Marshel Rossow, Ellen Mrja, John Gaterud. Master’s: Loretta Burns, Paul Burns, Greta Handke (Leigh Pomeroy), William Lass. Ph.D: Gerard Woodward, Kate Pullinger, Tracy Brain.
I’ve been a teacher myself since 2002: Adjunct 2002-12, Fixed-term 2013-2016, tenure track 2016-present. A few years there supporting teachers as a curriculum manager for Kaplan University.
But it really all stems back to my family. My older sister gave me lessons from her German classes on the dry erase board (why did we have a big dry erase board in our house, lol!?) and my mom instilled in me a love of reading and learning and curiosity. I loved playing school even in the days before I ever entered a school. Mom and Dad bought me a school desk (flip-top lid and all!) at a garage sale and that was the very best thing ever! I firmly believe the seeds are planted at a very young age for what you are to do for the rest of your life.
Please share your stories of teacher appreciation!!!
If You Have Five Seconds to Spare 
Mrs. Janet Hoberg, middle school art teacher: because she believed that she saw talent in me and gave me special extensions on projects (she was mistaken, I had no talent in the visual arts)
Mr. Tom Case, middle school music teacher: because he gave me 1:1 horn lessons and took me seriously
Mr. Mark Shepherd, 7th grade physical education teacher: because he was kind to me and he is responsible for showing me that I could enjoy running (and even back then I thought he was hot)
Mrs. Helen Curran, high school Spanish: because it was in her classes where I discovered my fascination for world languages and grammar, and I excelled at it.
Ms. Vivi Bak, Danish teacher in Denmark: because she became my best friend during my year abroad.
Mrs. Tuulikki Sinks, University of Minnesota Finnish instructor: because she introduced me to Finnish and because she took an interest in me, some semesters I was the only student, so I had 1:1 instruction
Aside from Spanish and Finnish grammar, I don’t think I ever learned anything from any of my teachers. I certainly did not learn the contents of the curriculum. I do regret this.
Oh yes, Mrs. Hoberg! I have fond memories of that class. Your comment shows that we often learn more than classroom things from our teachers.