Every day of the school year, Plymouth High School teachers create a welcoming environment for their students so they can teach them important life values and lessons. “I had great teachers when I was in school who inspired me to become the person I am today,” Mr. Philip Koops said, “and I wanted to be that for someone else.” Photo by: Alicia Sanchez
By Alicia Sanchez
Plymouth High School teachers provide insight into their lives and motivations for becoming who they are: educators.
One thing students may not know about Mr. Philip Koops, one of PHS’s Anatomy and Biology teachers, is that he “really [likes] watching the cooking channel.” Mrs. Mary Gifford, an English and Journalism teacher, said, “I surfed when I was in high school in North Miami Beach in Florida, and I had a surfboard.” When asked for a fact about herself, Mrs. Lacy Buck, teacher of Chemistry and Integrated Chemistry/Physics, said, “I have completed two century (100 mile) bike races.” Mr. Dwight Beguin, teacher of Geometry, Precalculus, and Trigonometry, jokingly replied, “I was named after Abraham Lincoln.”
High school teachers have hobbies just like everyone else. Mrs. Gifford likes to read, as well as doing more relaxing activities. She said, “I like to sew… I like to do crafts.” Mr. Beguin said, “I enjoy watching most sports and playing tennis.” Mr. Koops likes to spend his time coaching, lifting weights, hunting and fishing. Mrs. Buck also spends her free time being active. “I love to run half marathons,” she said.
Some teachers even have side jobs students may not know about. Mr. Koops works as one of the adults who runs the corn detasseling crew, alongside Mr. Patrick. Mrs. Gifford said her life at home was her second job. “I’m a wife, and a mother, and a nana,” she said. Some teachers’ second jobs involve teaching, just like their jobs here at PHS. “My second job is teaching up at Indiana University South Bend,” Mrs. Buck said, “I teach a Chemistry of Society course for non-chemistry majors.” Mr. Beguin said, “I also do some editing for a Cambridge Publications who produces ACT and SAT study materials and practice tests.”
A ‘typical work day’ is not so typical to many educators in PHS. Mr. Beguin believes there is no such thing as a typical day in his classroom. To Mrs. Buck, some days are different than others. “It depends on the day,” she said, “Some days we take notes, other days we are at the lab benches working with groups. On Fridays, I like to start the class with a chemical demonstration.” Mr. Koops said, “I try to mix it up as much as possible so students don’t get bored.”
People can be inspired by many things, whether they be quotes or people. Mr. Koops is inspired by Ralph Waldo Emerson’s quote, “Nothing great was ever accomplished without a little enthusiasm.” He proves this by showing up to class everyday in a very positive mood. Mrs. Gifford is well-known for the quote that inspires her, “Because nice matters.” She expects her students to follow that quote just as she does. Mr. Beguin said, “He who laughs last, laughs after everyone else is done laughing.” Mrs. Buck said, “No famous people or quotes. I do have many people in my life that live a healthy, active life. That is what inspires me.”
As one may know, PHS teachers have families. They have brothers and sisters, husbands and wives. Some even have grandchildren. Each family is unique, much like each person is unique. When asked about her family, Mrs. Gifford proudly said, “I have 6 grandchildren and 1 on the way.”
Many people have nicknames. The teachers at PHS are no exceptions. Mr. Koops said, “[My nickname is] Phil, short for Philip. Been that way forever.” Mrs. Gifford said her nickname was Mrs. Gary Mifford, a spoonerism. “I got it from one of my English 10 classes. It’s when you switch the first letter of the first and last name.”
As one can see, they are all unique. They are so different from each other, yet they ended up having the same profession. According to the teachers themselves, it’s much more complicated than the need for a job.
Living in America, they could have chosen to have almost any job they wanted to pursue, provided they had the proper amount of education. Instead, they chose to pass on their knowledge to future generations, to educate those who will become the leaders of tomorrow. “It was not a clear cut decision for me,” Mrs. Buck said, “At some point I listened to my father, who always felt that I would be a great teacher.” Mr. Koops said, “I had great teachers when I was in school who inspired me to become the person I am today, and I wanted to be that for someone else.”
Why did they choose Plymouth High School? “When I graduated from college I had several interviews, was offered a couple of different positions, and chose Plymouth because the community was similar to the place where I grew up,” said Mr. Koops. Mr. Beguin choose Plymouth because he said, “It made sense to teach in the same school corporation as my children.” When asked why she choose to work at PHS, Mrs. Buck said, “It [Plymouth High School] had a good reputation to be a great place to work.” Mrs. Gifford emphasized the importance of diversity. She said, “I had always lived in cities and gone to schools growing up that had diverse populations, so I was glad my children had this growing up in Plymouth.”
On Friday, April 14 in room 134, Mrs. Mary Gifford and her Journalism students work diligently on their articles for the Pilgrim Perspective online newspaper to inform PHS students of the goings on in Plymouth and around the world. “I think they understand my expectations,” Mrs. Gifford said, “and I think they accept that I want the best for them, even though that’s sometimes not something they always agree with.” Photo by: Alicia Sanchez
Even though they may be different people, their goals are ultimately the same: make their students better people. When asked what he planned on teaching students this year, Mr. Koops said, “A little bit about science, life, problem solving, and working together.” Thinking similarly, Mr. Beguin said he wished to teach students “that it takes hard work to succeed. Nothing that is worth anything comes easy.” Mrs. Gifford simply wants to teach them “to be the best people they possibly can.”
In order to become a teacher like them, one must make certain that is the job he or she wants. “If you’re going to do it, make sure you love it, it’s not a job for those that aren’t passionate about their craft,” said Mr. Koops. “Follow what makes you happy,” Mrs. Buck said, “I think loving your job is the most important thing.”