Daniel Wagner, a Ceramics and former history teacher at Tuscarora High School is well known for his friendly, outgoing personality. I’ve experienced his teaching firsthand and I can attest to the fact that his cheerful teaching style has led to many successful projects and several friends made. If every teacher was as welcoming as he is, I feel a lot more students would succeed in their classes. I asked Wagner a series of questions pertaining to his teaching style and personal beliefs because I feel that he is a teacher that many students look up to and feel comfortable around.
First, I asked what made him start teaching, because teaching is not an easy job.
Wagner explained that the opportunity that he gets everyday to inspire and influence young people in ways that improve their lives holds a special place in his heart.
This led me to my next question; his strengths and weaknesses when it comes to teaching. I knew that this question would be a bit challenging, since our strengths tend to be less visible to us than it is to others.
Wagner took a minute to think about his strengths before he explained that his strengths differ from the subjects or classes that he has taught. His strengths when teaching social studies are that his classes were very regimented and set up in a purposeful way. Social studies is a core class, so it definitely required lots of planning and preparation.
Wagner stated that ceramics is very different. “You teach a technique then you pretty much just have to review, student critique, then elaborate,” he explained. Wagner struggled with defining his weaknesses. The only weakness he could stipulate was that he doesn’t teach very conventionally. He doesn’t have “elaborate, historical activities,” but instead he makes references to the history of projects he assigns.
Then, I asked if he thought that students with a better connection were more likely to come to school.
Wagner said yes. He believes that having a connection with your teacher gives students a sense of belonging and purpose. “If you’re comfortable with the people you’re around, you’re more likely to share your ideas. Students crave that setting,” Wagner stated, “who wants to be in an environment where they don’t feel a connection?”
Obviously, Wagner believes that connection is important between teachers and students. I then asked him if he felt that online learning negatively impacted this connection.
“The second semester we went hybrid, I was tired of staring at Skittles,” Wagner joked, “I started putting my art classes into breakout rooms with about four or five kids and found that they were more comfortable talking and showing their artwork.” Wagner uses a similar teaching style in his Ceramics class now. He divides his students into four table groups and personally speaks and forms connections by asking icebreaker questions. He does this everyday in class.
I then asked if he thought that the school would succeed if every teacher was the same as him.
Wagner immediately said no. “You should teach using your own particular style,” he stated. He told a story about his first assistant coaching job. “The coach was volatile. He used profanity all the time. Outsiders would look at his coaching and say it’s awful, but it was his particular style and personality. I looked at that and noticed that it just wasn’t me.”
Wagner developed his own style over the years that works with HIS personality and HIS classes. He also believes that teachers having their own separate styles are important for students. Certain styles don’t work for everyone or every class.
Lastly, I asked about any teachers he looks up to or compares himself too.
Wagner points to MaryRose Reed, an Art and Ceramics teacher. He loves how she makes people feel good about themselves; he calls it her superpower. “Everyday she is high energy and complimentary. It makes me want to come in to work everyday,” he explained. The way Wagner feels about Ms. Reed is interesting, because he has a very similar effect on students. He may not have the same “superpower” as Ms. Reed, but he certainly makes plenty of students want to come into school everyday. Why? Because of his amazing connection with each of his students.
