BHS Spanish teacher Katie Marten was elected as Teacher of the Month by the Student Advisory Team. She has been teaching at BHS for three years. She attended the University of Kansas in Lawrence. In addition to teaching Spanish, she has taken students to Costa Rica on class trips.
Q: What was your reaction when you found out you won?
A: “Honestly, at first it was disbelief. I thought there had been some sort of mistake. But after I realized it was actually true, I was elated. It’s such an honor.”
Q: How does being teacher of the month make you feel about the way your students view you as a teacher?
A: “It definitely makes me feel appreciated and loved. Teaching is hard work, and students aren’t always the most forthcoming with their praise for teachers. Like many professions, there has to be a lot of internal motivation to keep going some days. But when something like this award is given, it lets me know that my students really do recognize the effort I put in, and they appreciate it. It makes me feel all warm and cozy inside.”
Q: Why did you decide to become a teacher?
A: “It was always in the back of my mind as an option I thought I might enjoy. In college I made sure to leave my career options open by studying Spanish, Education, ESOL, and Latin American Studies. I decided to go into teaching in the beginning because I wanted to help underprivileged and/or inner city youth. I’ve always had a thing for the underdog, I guess. I didn’t exactly encounter many underprivileged, inner-city youth here at Baldwin, but I’m glad I chose BHS as my first teaching job. I enjoy opening students’ minds, especially to different languages and cultures. I really like sparking their interest in travel. I think as long as I’m still youngish, my heart is still in it, and I haven’t lost it completely, I’ll keep teaching.”
Q: What is your favorite part of teaching?
A: “I’d have to say my favorite part is interacting with students.I like getting to know my students well. I like knowing what’s going on in their lives, and helping them with their future plans, if they ask me. I’ve also been known to give relationship advice from time to time, like how to ask one’s significant other to Prom, who to ask to Winter Formal, what to do if the guy you like also likes five other girls, etc. More than anything, I like watching my students grow and mature from awkward, shy freshmen to confident, outgoing seniors. The nerdy side of me also enjoys when a student makes a connection between something we learned in Spanish class, and something they encountered outside of the classroom.”
Q: If you could give your students any piece of advice what would it be?
A: “To my seniors, my babies, as they like to call themselves, quit worrying about what you’re going to major in and what career you might or might not go into. Just enjoy college for what it is. Take a variety of classes and travel a lot. You’ll find a job. It might not be your dream job or anything you ever imagined yourself doing, but take it all in stride. As long as you’re happy with yourself, you’ll be happy with your job and life. Wow, that sounds like something out of a corny Nicholas Sparks novel. Did I mention I hate The Notebook? That’s my second piece of advice: don’t read anything by Nicholas Sparks, unless you’re doing so to make a satirical comment on society.”