Teachers Who Make an Impact
Lasting Impressions
From my school years
Looking back on my school years, I can pinpoint a few teachers who truly made a lasting impact on me. One of the most memorable was my 12th-grade English teacher, Mr. Hartman.
Now, Mr. Hartman was infamous for giving out terrible grades. I thought I had English in the bag—I enjoyed writing and assumed I’d breeze through his class. So you can imagine my shock when my first paper came back with a big, fat 'F' on it. I’ll admit I was livid and thought it was completely inappropriate. But instead of writing me off or feeding my frustration, he challenged me. “You’re in 12th grade, buddy. You’ve got more to learn.”
That lesson stuck. Not just about writing, but about life. Mr. Hartman wasn’t just teaching us how to analyze literature; he was pushing us to think critically, to not just go with the flow, but to carve our own paths. One of the highest honors in his class was getting invited to his house to check out his legendary record collection—wall-to-wall classical music. We sat there, eating cheese and crackers, listening to Beethoven and Bach. At the time, it seemed pretty weird for a bunch of high school seniors. But looking back, it was incredibly cool. It was his way of showing us a different perspective, expanding our world beyond what we thought we knew.
Teachers like Mr. Hartman don’t just teach subjects—they change lives. And the research backs that up. Studies show that students with great teachers are far more likely to graduate and succeed later in life. In fact, one study found that having an effective teacher for even just one year can significantly boost a student’s learning. And if you replace even a small percentage of the least effective teachers with average ones, test scores across not just Florida, but across the country could soar.
Another study showed that when teachers really engage with their students—getting them involved in discussions, making learning interactive—failure rates drop by nearly 40%. Think about that: fewer kids falling through the cracks, more kids building confidence in their abilities. That’s the power of a great teacher.
We don’t always appreciate these educators in the moment, but they’re shaping the future, one lesson at a time. I know Mr. Hartman did for me. And if you had a teacher who challenged you, pushed you, and made you see the world a little differently—chances are, they did the same for you.
Be well,
Jeffrey Ford