Who was the most inspirational teacher in your life?

[Anonymous]

My 8th grade U.S. History teacher. He had incredibly high standards and taught me to think and question rather than to memorize facts. Up to that point I just coasted in school, but he demanded more.

Also my high school biology teacher. She's the reason I pursued a career in science and again, forced me to analyze information in ways I hadn't been challenged to do previously. She also has a great sense of humor. We still exchange Christmas cards.

[Anonymous]

Mr McCarthy, 3rd grade. He actively worked to instill respect for each other and understand that it is mean to make fun of people's physical appearance. We had some horrible bullying going on that was directed at a few people. I still remember some of his specific lessons, 36 years later.

He also taught us the 50 states in alphabetical order.

[Anonymous]

Katherine L. Foti was my 5th grade teacher at Strathmore Elementary 1990-1991 school year. She was a larger woman who moved slowly and had a very tough attitude. She was truly an old school, traditional teacher with years of experience. Ms. Foti gave extremely tough assignments, required academic excellence from her class at all times, and was quick to put you in your place whenever necessary. Most kids hated her class and made mean jokes about her. I was one of three students on the honor roll that obtained a perfect report card every single quarter. This was the highest academic achievement at Strathmore. I wanted to fit in with the "popular" girls but I didn't. I had no friends and my interactions with other girls was obligatory and superficial. I spent most of my recess time alone.

Ms. Foti recognized this but encouraged me to be myself and keep working hard academically. She often left books that she owned personally on my desk to keep (not borrow). I still have these books and they have "FOTI" written on the inside.

Sadly, she passed away in 2012. As an adult with children of my own, I appreciate her tough attitude, demand for academic excellence and wisdom about friendships. That fifth grade year really made a lasting impression on me. I learned lessons about the meaning of true friendship. I learned that it's ok to be smart and to try your best. I learned that there are some teachers who truly care about your growth and development beyond the standard MCPS learning objectives. My self-confidence improved grately by the end of the school year. I went on to excel in middle school and high school. I then attended two of the top universities in the country.

I pray my kids will encounter tough, caring and dedicated teachers like Ms. Foti as they matriculate through MCPS schools. I was truly blessed to have her as a teacher.


http://www.meltonmortuary.com/obituaries_444_Katherine-Foti

[Anonymous]

Ms. Fields-New, high school English and Latin

[Anonymous]

None.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Katherine L. Foti was my 5th grade teacher at Strathmore Elementary 1990-1991 school year. She was a larger woman who moved slowly and had a very tough attitude. She was truly an old school, traditional teacher with years of experience. Ms. Foti gave extremely tough assignments, required academic excellence from her class at all times, and was quick to put you in your place whenever necessary. Most kids hated her class and made mean jokes about her. I was one of three students on the honor roll that obtained a perfect report card every single quarter. This was the highest academic achievement at Strathmore. I wanted to fit in with the "popular" girls but I didn't. I had no friends and my interactions with other girls was obligatory and superficial. I spent most of my recess time alone.

Ms. Foti recognized this but encouraged me to be myself and keep working hard academically. She often left books that she owned personally on my desk to keep (not borrow). I still have these books and they have "FOTI" written on the inside.

Sadly, she passed away in 2012. As an adult with children of my own, I appreciate her tough attitude, demand for academic excellence and wisdom about friendships. That fifth grade year really made a lasting impression on me. I learned lessons about the meaning of true friendship. I learned that it's ok to be smart and to try your best. I learned that there are some teachers who truly care about your growth and development beyond the standard MCPS learning objectives. My self-confidence improved grately by the end of the school year. I went on to excel in middle school and high school. I then attended two of the top universities in the country.

I pray my kids will encounter tough, caring and dedicated teachers like Ms. Foti as they matriculate through MCPS schools. I was truly blessed to have her as a teacher.


http://www.meltonmortuary.com/obituaries_444_Katherine-Foti

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:None of them really inspired me. I remember, literally, all of them. (I'm 38 if it matters, so it's not like I'm 19 and this was just 2 years ago.)

Some stand out for good reasons and some stand out for bad reasons. Some were just bleh. But none really inspired me in any way.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Katherine L. Foti was my 5th grade teacher at Strathmore Elementary 1990-1991 school year. She was a larger woman who moved slowly and had a very tough attitude. She was truly an old school, traditional teacher with years of experience. Ms. Foti gave extremely tough assignments, required academic excellence from her class at all times, and was quick to put you in your place whenever necessary. Most kids hated her class and made mean jokes about her. I was one of three students on the honor roll that obtained a perfect report card every single quarter. This was the highest academic achievement at Strathmore. I wanted to fit in with the "popular" girls but I didn't. I had no friends and my interactions with other girls was obligatory and superficial. I spent most of my recess time alone.

Ms. Foti recognized this but encouraged me to be myself and keep working hard academically. She often left books that she owned personally on my desk to keep (not borrow). I still have these books and they have "FOTI" written on the inside.

Sadly, she passed away in 2012. As an adult with children of my own, I appreciate her tough attitude, demand for academic excellence and wisdom about friendships. That fifth grade year really made a lasting impression on me. I learned lessons about the meaning of true friendship. I learned that it's ok to be smart and to try your best. I learned that there are some teachers who truly care about your growth and development beyond the standard MCPS learning objectives. My self-confidence improved grately by the end of the school year. I went on to excel in middle school and high school. I then attended two of the top universities in the country.

I pray my kids will encounter tough, caring and dedicated teachers like Ms. Foti as they matriculate through MCPS schools. I was truly blessed to have her as a teacher.


http://www.meltonmortuary.com/obituaries_444_Katherine-Foti

You know, this poster just gave a beautiful tribute to an influential teacher that has died. Leave it to the high and mighty people on this board to make a stupid grammar correction rather than leave a nice comment about the tribute. Get a life!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Katherine L. Foti was my 5th grade teacher at Strathmore Elementary 1990-1991 school year. She was a larger woman who moved slowly and had a very tough attitude. She was truly an old school, traditional teacher with years of experience. Ms. Foti gave extremely tough assignments, required academic excellence from her class at all times, and was quick to put you in your place whenever necessary. Most kids hated her class and made mean jokes about her. I was one of three students on the honor roll that obtained a perfect report card every single quarter. This was the highest academic achievement at Strathmore. I wanted to fit in with the "popular" girls but I didn't. I had no friends and my interactions with other girls was obligatory and superficial. I spent most of my recess time alone.

Ms. Foti recognized this but encouraged me to be myself and keep working hard academically. She often left books that she owned personally on my desk to keep (not borrow). I still have these books and they have "FOTI" written on the inside.

Sadly, she passed away in 2012. As an adult with children of my own, I appreciate her tough attitude, demand for academic excellence and wisdom about friendships. That fifth grade year really made a lasting impression on me. I learned lessons about the meaning of true friendship. I learned that it's ok to be smart and to try your best. I learned that there are some teachers who truly care about your growth and development beyond the standard MCPS learning objectives. My self-confidence improved grately by the end of the school year. I went on to excel in middle school and high school. I then attended two of the top universities in the country.

I pray my kids will encounter tough, caring and dedicated teachers like Ms. Foti as they matriculate through MCPS schools. I was truly blessed to have her as a teacher.


http://www.meltonmortuary.com/obituaries_444_Katherine-Foti

You know, this poster just gave a beautiful tribute to an influential teacher that has died. Leave it to the high and mighty people on this board to make a stupid grammar correction rather than leave a nice comment about the tribute. Get a life!!!

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Katherine L. Foti was my 5th grade teacher at Strathmore Elementary 1990-1991 school year. She was a larger woman who moved slowly and had a very tough attitude. She was truly an old school, traditional teacher with years of experience. Ms. Foti gave extremely tough assignments, required academic excellence from her class at all times, and was quick to put you in your place whenever necessary. Most kids hated her class and made mean jokes about her. I was one of three students on the honor roll that obtained a perfect report card every single quarter. This was the highest academic achievement at Strathmore. I wanted to fit in with the "popular" girls but I didn't. I had no friends and my interactions with other girls was obligatory and superficial. I spent most of my recess time alone.

Ms. Foti recognized this but encouraged me to be myself and keep working hard academically. She often left books that she owned personally on my desk to keep (not borrow). I still have these books and they have "FOTI" written on the inside.

Sadly, she passed away in 2012. As an adult with children of my own, I appreciate her tough attitude, demand for academic excellence and wisdom about friendships. That fifth grade year really made a lasting impression on me. I learned lessons about the meaning of true friendship. I learned that it's ok to be smart and to try your best. I learned that there are some teachers who truly care about your growth and development beyond the standard MCPS learning objectives. My self-confidence improved grately by the end of the school year. I went on to excel in middle school and high school. I then attended two of the top universities in the country.

I pray my kids will encounter tough, caring and dedicated teachers like Ms. Foti as they matriculate through MCPS schools. I was truly blessed to have her as a teacher.


http://www.meltonmortuary.com/obituaries_444_Katherine-Foti

You know, this poster just gave a beautiful tribute to an influential teacher that has died. Leave it to the high and mighty people on this board to make a stupid grammar correction rather than leave a nice comment about the tribute. Get a life!!!

My thoughts exactly!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Katherine L. Foti was my 5th grade teacher at Strathmore Elementary 1990-1991 school year. She was a larger woman who moved slowly and had a very tough attitude. She was truly an old school, traditional teacher with years of experience. Ms. Foti gave extremely tough assignments, required academic excellence from her class at all times, and was quick to put you in your place whenever necessary. Most kids hated her class and made mean jokes about her. I was one of three students on the honor roll that obtained a perfect report card every single quarter. This was the highest academic achievement at Strathmore. I wanted to fit in with the "popular" girls but I didn't. I had no friends and my interactions with other girls was obligatory and superficial. I spent most of my recess time alone.

Ms. Foti recognized this but encouraged me to be myself and keep working hard academically. She often left books that she owned personally on my desk to keep (not borrow). I still have these books and they have "FOTI" written on the inside.

Sadly, she passed away in 2012. As an adult with children of my own, I appreciate her tough attitude, demand for academic excellence and wisdom about friendships. That fifth grade year really made a lasting impression on me. I learned lessons about the meaning of true friendship. I learned that it's ok to be smart and to try your best. I learned that there are some teachers who truly care about your growth and development beyond the standard MCPS learning objectives. My self-confidence improved grately by the end of the school year. I went on to excel in middle school and high school. I then attended two of the top universities in the country.

I pray my kids will encounter tough, caring and dedicated teachers like Ms. Foti as they matriculate through MCPS schools. I was truly blessed to have her as a teacher.


http://www.meltonmortuary.com/obituaries_444_Katherine-Foti

You know, this poster just gave a beautiful tribute to an influential teacher that has died. Leave it to the high and mighty people on this board to make a stupid grammar correction rather than leave a nice comment about the tribute. Get a life!!!

Ditto! What was the point?

[Anonymous]

My third grade teacher, Ms. Free, my fifth grade teacher Mrs. Hughes, and my sixth grade teacher Peola Diggs, I attended Emery Elementary School in northeast DC, each infused me with confidence and hope for the future. They all knew that my home situation wasn't very good and tried to help me feel good about myself. As a result, I loved them and school.

[Anonymous]

Mrs. Ulrich (k) @ farmland, mrs. adams from WJ

[Anonymous]

Mrs Adler who taught English at Walt Whitman. Very difficult but very motivating - she taught me that I could write well if I gave it my all. Thank you, Mrs. Adler!

[Anonymous]

Mr. Hand