Teacher finds reward in building student rapport
Each Friday, The Citizen features someone in education from the Finger Lakes community in The Banks: This week, we spotlight Mackenzie Baker of Auburn High School.
Q. What is most rewarding part of your job?
A. There is nothing more rewarding about my job than building relationships with my students. Beyond knowing your subject matter or how to manage your classroom, getting to know your students is so much fun. It amazes me when they choose to share their lives with me, out of all people. Whether they tell me when their birthday is, communicate issues they're having at home or ask for advice about their part-time job, they confide in me and that feels good.
Q. What is the most challenging?
A. At the moment, planning my lessons or projects. As a new teacher, I am really focusing on being prepared.
Q. What was your most embarrassing moment?
A. I'm not afraid to be silly and goofy in front of my students. So, when something happens that would most likely embarrass someone, like tripping over a book bag on the floor, I just laugh, and I tell my students to laugh too!
Q. What's the best food item served in your cafeteria?
A. Salad Bar. Whatever you want for only $2 and change.
Q. What is a student's key to success in your class?
A. Any student of mine can succeed if they exude as much effort as they have. I tell them #“you don't have to create a masterpiece, as long as you try your hardest.”
Q. If you hadn't selected teaching, what career would you have pursued?
A. I earned my bachelor of fine art in graphic design, so I would probably have pursued a career in that.
Q. Please fill in the blanks. When I was in school, I had the toughest time in my ____ class because _____
A. Math, because I am not good at it at all. Plus, I gave up a lot out of frustration, which I now regret.
Q. Please fill in the blanks. The best teacher I ever had was ___ because ____.
A. Mrs. Keyes, because I felt as though she believed in me and noticed my interest in art. And she encouraged me to pursue it in my future.
Q. What is one thing that people would be surprised to learn about you?
A. Everyone who comes into my classroom is always surprised at how neat and organized it is. The other art teachers and my students are always teasing me about how much I clean.
Mackenzie Baker
Subject taught: Art
School: Auburn High School
Years teaching: First year
Q. What is most rewarding part of your job?
A. There is nothing more rewarding about my job than building relationships with my students. Beyond knowing your subject matter or how to manage your classroom, getting to know your students is so much fun. It amazes me when they choose to share their lives with me, out of all people. Whether they tell me when their birthday is, communicate issues they're having at home or ask for advice about their part-time job, they confide in me and that feels good.
Q. What is the most challenging?
A. At the moment, planning my lessons or projects. As a new teacher, I am really focusing on being prepared.
Q. What was your most embarrassing moment?
A. I'm not afraid to be silly and goofy in front of my students. So, when something happens that would most likely embarrass someone, like tripping over a book bag on the floor, I just laugh, and I tell my students to laugh too!
Q. What's the best food item served in your cafeteria?
A. Salad Bar. Whatever you want for only $2 and change.
Q. What is a student's key to success in your class?
A. Any student of mine can succeed if they exude as much effort as they have. I tell them #“you don't have to create a masterpiece, as long as you try your hardest.”
Q. If you hadn't selected teaching, what career would you have pursued?
A. I earned my bachelor of fine art in graphic design, so I would probably have pursued a career in that.
Q. Please fill in the blanks. When I was in school, I had the toughest time in my ____ class because _____
A. Math, because I am not good at it at all. Plus, I gave up a lot out of frustration, which I now regret.
Q. Please fill in the blanks. The best teacher I ever had was ___ because ____.
A. Mrs. Keyes, because I felt as though she believed in me and noticed my interest in art. And she encouraged me to pursue it in my future.
Q. What is one thing that people would be surprised to learn about you?
A. Everyone who comes into my classroom is always surprised at how neat and organized it is. The other art teachers and my students are always teasing me about how much I clean.
Mackenzie Baker
Subject taught: Art
School: Auburn High School
Years teaching: First year
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