De Soto High School is a place filled with incredible teachers who impact students everyday. With differing qualifications and experience, there are many who could be argued on the “most” impactful but that also changes depending on the student.
Personally I believe Keri Lauxman, Matt Rice, Laura Sixta, Junelle Woolery, Sean Riley, and Scott Sharp are the most influential and impactul on student lives.
Mrs. Lauxman, Mrs. Sixata and Mr. Sharp are the types of teachers who make sure information is drilled into your head and you know how to apply the material they teach.
Lauxman, with her bubbly personality and positive attitude, asks what the best part of everyone’s weeks are, as well as keep the students feeling good and ready to learn. She strives to make the best versions of everyone.
Mr. Sharp gives so many different examples of what it is that he is saying, and when the concept is not fully understood, he makes sure to explain it differently to help even more. His sarcasm and dry humor make it so anatomy is not boring, but rather “humerus.”
Mrs. Sixta is one of those teachers who is professional yet open enough to make her students feel welcome when asking questions. She, like Sharp, gives several different ways to learn the hard concepts of chemistry when you cannot figure them out. She prides herself on helping my peers succeed in her class.
With those teachers in mind, there are also the teachers who are constantly building strong relationships with the students of DHS and helping them build better skills outside of the material being taught.
Mr. Rice, Woolery, and Mr. Riley is a part of that group to be there to help enrich the students’ lives and make school a better place to be.
Mr. Rice, while keen on helpinghis stduents learn history, is super involved with the school. He is constantly building connections with his pupils but also his teams. He is always trying to fit more critical thinking into his plans and will have days to just talk with the class so they are not lost among the other courses that can be mind numbing.
Woolery is one of the sweetest, most endearing teachers at the school. She consistently says “hey” to kids in the hallways, has genuine conversations, and tries her best to help kids succeed. She makes sure everyone has a place and is incredibly inclusive and welcoming.
Mr. Riley is also very welcoming. Though it is his first year on the school newspaper, he is always improving the curriculum and finding ways to help the class succeed. His goofy character and fun sense of humor draw the students in to truly immerse themselves in the class while also learning how to better manage their time.
Though these teachers are who I believe to be the most impactful, that is not to say that there are not others in the building. Their ability to master the art of teaching is one that I see is unmatched and helps alter the lives of many students.
