It's teacher appreciation week and social media is humming with tributes to great mentors and educators, so I figured I'd share this post I penned last year to mark the occasion.
A few years ago, I wrote about the best teacher I ever had and about how I wished I'd had the chance to tell Mr. Pepper about the impact he had on my life.
When I became a dad and my kids neared school age, I hoped they'd have a teacher like Jack Pepper – one who knew when to be firm, knew when to be loving and knew how to reach and teach children.
A few years into their school careers, I can honestly say that my wish has already come true.
For six straight years, my family was fortunate to have an MPS teacher who just may be the best my kids will ever have – though I hope she's just the first in a long line of similarly dedicated, caring, smart, no-nonsense teachers who will instill knowledge, critical thinking, confidence and independence in my children. (Update: My kids have been blessed with two new and amazing teachers this year.)
I will not name her here, because I suspect that it might make her uncomfortable. But she – and her principal and colleagues – know who she is, and that's all that matters.
When my shy kid was in her room, she nudged him gently along. When he spaced off, gazing out the window, she kindly redirected him. When he gave her a wallet-size print of his class picture, she put it on the wall. Years later it's still there, joined now by a picture of his sibling, who entered the room as he exited.
That kid brought a different spirit to school, but our teacher has worked hard to focus and guide and nurture that personality, too. When tough love is needed, tough love is dealt. When encouragement is required, encouragement is given. When incentive will work, incentive is provided. When praise will do the trick, there is praise.
Even on a tough love day, when it might be hardest for them to see, I think my kids know they are in the daily care of someone who loves them. And I'm sure they'll understand and appreciate later that their teacher was willing to do whatever it took to get them ready to face the world.
And they will hope that their own children will have a teacher as great as the one they were lucky to know.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
