In every classroom, there is a unique story behind the teachers standing at the front, guiding students toward knowledge. This week, I had the privilege of speaking with several educators here at Sylvan Hills, diving into the personal stories of how they began their teaching careers. From unexpected paths to lifelong dreams, these teachers have tales to tell about thier journeys into the classroom.

Ms Glass-Tourism Industry MGMT Teacher

Ms. Glass has been teaching at Sylvan Hills for a year. She was previously at Maumelle and before that, other schools. In total, she has 25 years of teaching under her belt, which she described as “learning experience.” Ms Glass shared that her path to education was always a clear one.

“Ever since I was a young girl, I always wanted to teach students how to invest and have a brighter future,” Ms. Glass said.

Ms Glass also said her passion for teaching students stems from a deep love for storytelling.

“Children are the future. What we teach them sticks to them. That’s the most important part of my job.”

When asked to share one thing she likes to do that we might not know, Ms. Glass revealed she likes to dance.

Coach Tipon-Athletic Director

For many educators, the passion for teaching starts with a love of learning, a favorite childhood teacher, or a desire to make a difference. However,  for Coach Tipon the journey to becoming a teaching staff wasn’t about textbooks or a lesson plan- it was about the game. He has been teaching for 29 years, 28 here at Sylvan Hills. He’s been a Bear for quiet a while. One of his favorite units to teach was pre cal.

“I knew from a young age that I wanted to be a coach,” Tipon said.

When he’s not directing sports, Tipon can be caught hunting, which he said is something he does in his free time. “I love it,” Tipton said. “Many people don’t know I do it.”

Mr Lewis-Theater Teacher Director

For Theater Director/Teacher Mr Lewis teaching has “always been his calling”. Most of the teachers at Sylvan Hills impacted his choice to be a teacher in today’s time. He has always liked theater and wanted to pursue it. He has in total 9 years of teaching under his belt, and 2 of those years have been at Sylvan Hills. The other 7 were at North Little Rock.

His favorite unit to teach is duet acting which is a performance for two players and both participants must be actively involved in the scene chosen for their performance. He has also performed in a play where he had to be 3 different characters: the protagonist, the narrator, and the antagonist, which he said was “very challenging but a fun thing to do.”

Mr. Lewis revealed one thing we may not know about him is that he likes to cook. 

Despite their different journeys, all the teachers I spoke with shared a common love for their students and their subjects. Whether they planned it from childhood or discovered it later in life, they all found fulfillment in shaping young minds. As Ms Glass said, “I always want to invest in the future of young students. They are the future.”

These stories show that while the path to teaching can vary, the passion for education is what unites them all