Discussing the role of teachers during the School Board’s traditional “School Spotlight” this week, Calvin High School mathematics teacher Teresa Martin questioned, “Are we preparing students for their future?”

Principal Justin Tinsley introduced her presentation by explaining that this Spotlight was “a little different” from the usual when accomplished students had been brought before the board to make presentations.  “We have many wonderful teachers at Calvin High School and our test scores have knocked it out of the park.”  He added that while all the modern technology available in education today is useful, it’s the teachers that truly make the difference.  “That’s where the rubber meets the road.”

Results back from the state proved that at CHS where subject mastery levels where increased from 22% to 37%, far exceeding the 5% bump they had projected.  Martin, he explained, is not only teaching high school mathematics but offering dual curriculum college offerings of geometry this semester, with plans of trigonometry the next.  Students at Dodson High School and Winnfield Senior High School are also participating via Zoom technology.

“We’ve delved deeper than required,” she told the board.  “We’ve got to teach our students from bell to bell.  Our time has to be spent with quality teaching.  If quality teaching is to take place, quality planning needs to be prepared ahead of time.  It can’t end with the school day.  We have to take work home with us.”

Martin, who holds a Master’s degree in Mathematics, pointed out that she is not teaching the same way she did when she started, or even as she did ten years ago.  ”We have to be willing to change.  Teachers have to improve their instruction methods for student scores to improve.