My Most Memorable Student

If I had to choose one story that I most cherished about my teaching career, it would definitely be about a student named Johnny Johnson. I was teaching at Del Valle High School in Del Valle, Texas. Johnny was a tall, handsome, African American who was assigned to my 10th grade class. On day 1, he walked into my class in a loud, rude fashion, but as the day progressed I recognized the potential in this student.He continued to defy me throughout the year, but I never gave up on him. He was smart and quick with his responses, and when he took the role of Hamlet, I saw what a star he could be. When the class clapped at one portion of his Hamlet performance, I saw the flicker of a smile, and I began to have hope of a change, but he refused to budge from his defiant stance. The following year, Johnny was assigned to my class again, as I was assigned to teach an 11th grade class. I couldn't believe that I got him again! I gave him greater responsiilities, challenged him even further, had tons of meetings with him and his parents, but at the end of the year, he maintained his defiance. In the fall, I was given the 12 grade class, which was always a great responsibility and honor for a teacher, and of course, I was assigned Johnny Johnson yet again. On the first day of class, he asked to speak to me in the hallway, and he said he was going to be my top student that year, and he kept his promise...He maintained an "A" average, and he graduated with honors.

Johnny was accepted in a very good college, and he was in the top 5 percent of his class. He wrote an essay about the teacher who had the greatest influence in his life, and he submitted it to Who's Who Among America's Teachers. It turned out to be an essay about me. As a result of Johnny's essay, I was included in the publication that year, and only 5 percent of teachers nationwide are selected for inclusion in this publication. It was the highest honor I could have achieved, and I cried when I received the letter from Who's Who Among America's Teachers. Johnny had been also published in Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges.

I then also appeared in the Del Valle Digest to announce that I was chosen on of the best teachers in America. Here is the link to the digest. and I am on page three:

http://www.del-valle.k12.tx.us/documents/District%20Digest%20January%202005.pdf I am listed under Anna Perlberger Butler. Anna is my legal first name. I was named after both my grandmothers, and Perlberger is my maiden name. I then got nominated again two years later.

Anyways, I had great joy from teaching, and working with students like Johnny was so rewarding. I will never forget Johnny Johnson!