(Editor’s note: The Augusta Press will feature each of the five finalists for Richmond County’s Teacher of the Year. The winner will be announced at an Oct. 6 banquet.)
The teachers Melody Spires-Howe had as a student inspired her to follow in their footsteps.
“I was first drawn to teaching from the experiences I had in my high school history classes. I had some amazing teachers that kind of just brought history to life, and from that moment I knew that I wanted to teach just like that,” said Spires-Howe, an Augusta native, who has been teaching for eight years.
She was recently announced as one of Richmond County’s finalists for the Teacher of the Year award.
“I am completely humbled and honored to be named a finalist,” she said. “I know there are hundreds of other teachers out there working incredibly hard and putting all their dedication and best into their daily teaching – I’m honored to just be recognized in that capacity.”
Spires-Howe graduated from Augusta University with a Bachelor of Arts in history, a minor in anthropology and a master’s degree in the art.
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She teaches advanced placement courses in psychology and world history at John S. Davidson Fine Arts Magnet School. Despite the heavy subjects, Spires-Howe hopes compassion will always remain a key factor in her impact on students’ lives.
“I think the greatest thing that I can model and hope that they take away from my classroom is to be compassionate and understanding of others,” she said. “While I think it is extremely important to have students understand the social sciences and to understand the past, … [I want them] to always know that they have someone who is there for them and that they can, in turn, be there for someone else.”
She believes teaching students compassion and empathy will lead to a more equal and productive learning environment which will build a greater future.
Academically, she endeavors to help advance her students’ research skills as she claims these skills are useful in all subjects and sets high schoolers up for future success.
“I hope to give them a foundation in the skills that they will need to be successful in the future,” she said.
At Augusta University, Spires-Howe said her professor, Hubert van Tuyll, made a tremendous impact on the historian she is today.
“He taught me the skills needed to be a good historian – how to research and view the past to gain a better understanding of the past,” she said.
Throughout her career, Spires-Howe said she discovered teaching required more dedication than she previously thought when studying education in college.
“I’m fortunate to work with a lot of teachers who are dedicated and put a lot of effort into putting the highest level of education that they can provide for students; so, that level of dedication that’s required to be successful and to reach students has definitely changed my life.”
Spires-Howe said teaching has made her increasingly appreciate the art of passing on knowledge to others; it has shown her the importance of not only teaching the material, but also teaching students how to view the past and cooperate with one another.
“I feel like teaching is more than a profession – it’s who I am,” she said. “I didn’t realize how much teaching was going to change me personally when I chose it as my profession.”
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Teaching at Davidson, Spires-Howe said she is fortunate to watch students grow in musical and artistic talents as well as academics.
“I get to see where they excel in their interests in the arts. I get to watch amazing performances where they sing, dance, play a musical instrument and get to showcase their excellence outside of the classroom,” she said. “I’m fortunate in being able to watch them do what they love.”
Spires-Howe said being invested in other aspects of a student’s life shows them that teachers care about them as just an academic.
“It shows the teacher has a vested interest in who they are as a person – not just who they are as a student,” she said.
To encourage students who might not be passionate about learning, Spires-Howe said she believes teaching students that teachers really do care about them motivates them into participating more.
“I feel that students are more willing to participate and be involved when they know that they’re in a safe learning environment where they are appreciated and the teachers are caring,” she said.
Spires-Howe said she loves teaching, especially at Davidson, and hopes to positively impact her students because they also impact her.
“The success of my students make me feel as though I’ve achieved all the goals that I have set for myself as a teacher,” she said.
The winner of Richmond County’s Teacher of the Year award will be announced on Oct. 6 at 7 p.m. at the Augusta Marriott located downtown.
Liz Wright is a staff writer covering education and general assignments for The Augusta Press. Reach her at liz@theaugustapress.com)
