As of last year, Student Council has taken to recognizing a teacher from each Lake Park campus every month. A Google form is posted around the school, so that students can vote on which teacher deserves the recognition of Teacher of the Month. The winning teachers receive a breakfast of their choosing, as well as a poster which includes the kind notes students wrote about them in their nomination Google form. According to Student Council sponsor Ms. Natalia Bedtke, “Teacher of the month is a way for students to say ‘thank you’ to teachers and recognize those who are going above and beyond to connect with students and support them.”
In February, the teachers of the month were Mr. Ben Bishop and Mr. Steve Cimino.
At West Campus, Mr. Bishop teaches Statistics and AP Statistics.
He grew up in Springfield, Illinois, where his childhood was sports-centric. He had always had a love for math, even taking Geometry and Algebra 2 at the same time in high school. He went on to attend Illinois State University for a year, before transferring to Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. In college, he was a track and field athlete, and completed his undergraduate and masters degrees. He taught at Edwardsville High School for two years before coming to Lake Park in 2013.
“I was fortunate to have teachers and coaches who invested in me and pushed me to be better. I realized I wanted to have that same kind of impact on others.” Mr. Bishop said of his decision to become a teacher. He went on to say that his favorite part of teaching is “making connections with my students and watching them grow, which is incredibly rewarding.”
However, Mr. Bishop concedes that the hardest part of teaching is maintaining balance in his life.
“There are always things to do and students to support, but only so many hours in a day,” Mr. Bishop said.
Mr. Bishop’s advice to students is, “Try as many things as you possibly can. Meet as many people as you can. Keep an open mind throughout the process. You don’t need to have your entire life figured out right now. Most adults didn’t either. What matters is building skills, relationships, and habits that will serve you no matter what direction you choose.”
Mr. Cimino teaches American Literature and AP English Literature at West Campus. He grew up in Addison, where his family loved to read. He began writing his own stories at a young age.
In addition, he was influenced by his exceptional middle and high school English teachers, who led him to the realization in his junior year of high school that he wanted to be a teacher. He then found himself at Illinois State.
“I hoped to try and inspire the next wave of students the way my teachers inspired me,” Mr. Cimino said.
Mr. Cimino’s favorite thing about teaching is its unpredictability and dynamism.
“Every class is totally different. I never feel like I’m stuck in a routine because every hour I get to start something fresh with new faces and personalities,” Mr. Cimino said. “You will never get bored in this job.”
His biggest challenge as a teacher, like Mr. Bishop, is balancing all his commitments.
“There is always a lot going on, from planning to grading to clubs to family – you guys know how hard balancing everything can be! It’s sometimes tough to get everything in, but it’s worth it.”
He also had this advice to share with students:
“There is no rush to figure things out. Give everything a try – you might surprise yourself when you find out what you love and what you’re good at. High school is such a great opportunity to get exposed to different skills and people and ideas. Don’t miss out!”
Recognizing staff members as teachers of the month is a way for students to reflect on the hard work and dedication their teachers have committed to their students’ learning and growth. Teacher of the month promotes community at Lake Park.
“This is just one small way to celebrate staff on a consistent basis and give students a voice,” Ms. Bedtke said.
Next time you’re feeling frustrated when your assignment is taking a while to grade, remember the dedication and commitment your teachers invest in your education. Maybe even thank them for how much they’ve sacrificed for their students.
Through little acts of kindness like these, we can brighten a teacher’s day and make Lake Park a place that inspires growth through positivity.
