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MAKING IT ALL ADD UP
Freshman math teacher Andrew Schildmeier was named Smith-Cotton’s Outstanding Educator for this school year. He was nominated by a handful of his previous students.
Schildmeier has been teaching at Smith-Cotton for three years. He had known that teaching was for him since he was in eighth grade. When he started attending college at the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg, he was originally a nursing student and realized right away that it wasn't right for him. Education is a good fit for Schildmeier, as he has always enjoyed math and he has enjoyed working with kids.
“I wanted to teach kids that you don't have to love math, but it's OK,” he said.
Schildmeier admits that he was excited and even got a little emotional when he found out that he had won the Outstanding Educator honor.
“At first I thought it was a joke ,” he said, as his birthday was the day before he received the award.
“I'm one of those people who doesn't take compliments very well,” he said. He feels that he is just doing his job.
Freshman world history teacher Caiti Alexander said, “I think he is often overlooked for the work that he does.” She feels that while Schildmeier is recognized by his fellow Freshman Academy teachers, people upstairs don’t always directly see what's taking place in the freshman wing. Schildmeier’s recognition ”showcases what we are doing down here in freshman academy,” said Alexander.
Freshman math teacher Michael Stehwien has worked alongside Schildmeier for the past two years. Stehwien says that the two get along well and that he was excited for his fellow teacher to gain the award.
“I think it's well deserved; he's constantly making great relationships with his students, and working to help them all the time,” Stehwien said.
Faith Lewis, one of Schildmeier’s students, nominated him. She said in her nomination that he goes out of his way to make sure his students understand what is taking place.
“He listens to what his students need the most to help them and acts upon those needs and wants as soon as possible and in the best way he can,” said Lewis, who appreciates how Schildmeier makes his class fun and not a boring workplace where students feel uncomfortable.
“You can be the best content teacher in the world, you can know the stuff but it's a whole other task to reach kids and understand kids and form relationships with kids,” said Alexander.