Ruch, Ore.– We all know the power of a good teacher. They can help guide us through our formative and sometimes challenging years and set us on a positive path towards higher education. For the month of November we will be honoring teachers in our communities who are making a difference. We caught up with a math teacher who is using community service as a teaching tool.
“I’ve wanted to be a teacher since I was young,” says Jennifer Drane, teacher at Ruch Community School. “I love helping people.”
Jennifer has been teaching for 18 years, the past two years at Ruch.
“I feel very passionate about what I do and I hope everyday I wake up and I hope I am doing the best for my students,” Jennifer explains.
Between juggling math and language arts classes and even coaching volleyball, it’s the connection with her students that means the most to her.
“My favorite part is the ‘aha’ moments,” she says. “One day in class they’ll go ‘Oh Mrs. Drane, I figured it out’ and it’s just so fun to watch that happen.”
Beyond academic success, Jennifer hopes to also instill a sense of community in her students.
“Service learning is really important.”
Any opportunity she has, Jennifer enjoys taking her students out of the classroom and into their neighborhood.
Maddi Strain, one of Drane’s students reflects on one of the classes most recent trips. “We went to Cantrall Buckley and cleaned up the river and everything.”
“She has changed a lot of stuff and made it quite a bit better,” echoes student, Treyson Bowman.
“I’m hoping that every one of the kids in my class looks back at middle school and says whoa those were my best years,” Jennifer says.
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