Teachers are people, too. For students, that can be hard to remember since the only time they come into contact with their educators is within school grounds. Teachers are surrounded by children every day. They spend an average of 40 hours a week cultivating the minds of young people with whom they share no DNA. However, when they leave for the night, they are going to a home like anyone else’s. They have parents and siblings and people they love. Some even have children of their own.
Social studies teacher and head swim coach Kris Jones became a father with the birth of his son, Kaden, on April 30, 2011. At six pounds, eight ounces, the new addition to the Jones family has brought Jones a greater understanding of his students’ parents as well as an incomparable amount of joy.
“The thing I look forward to the most is being able to spend time with Kaden and watching him grow,” Jones said. “I am excited every time he learns something new. For instance, being a swim coach I took him to the pool a lot over the summer and it was amazing to watch him play in the water.”
Life Nutrition/Child Development teacher Diana Evans also recently joined the ranks of parenthood with the birth of her six-month-old daughter, Ivery Shae Evans. Although returning to work has been difficult, Evans says she has enjoyed every moment with little Ivery and always carries pictures of the baby girl around with her.
“I think being a parent makes you a better teacher,” Evans said. “You want to care for your students in the same way you hope your own child’s teacher will care for them.
Maternity leave provides parents with much needed time to bond and care for their newborn child in its first few months. AP English teacher Lauren Hodum returned from such a leave today, after giving birth to William Gene Wellington Hodum on June 26, 2012.
“Since I teach high school I think right now I feel just as inexperienced as any new mom, but I hope when William gets older I will have a better understanding of his needs since I have been teaching 11th and 12th grade for seven years,” Hodum said.
As these teachers and others continue to expand their families and become loving parents, it is apparent that they only improve their ability to teach the youth of America. While they are thought of as just teachers from the hours of eight a.m. to five p.m., these teachers are first and foremost parents of children they love more than anything.
“I am excited about holidays, family trips and watching my sweet baby grow up,” Hodum said. “It is amazing the love I have for him. I never imagined how much I would love him and I love him more every day.”
