Editor”s Note: One of the speakers at Clinton’s recent Founders’ Day event was CJHS teacher Kelby McMath. McMath spoke about becoming a teacher and motivating students to have a sense of community.  The Clinton Journal presents here the text of McMath’s comments as a public service.

“Good afternoon, I would like to start today by thanking the Celebrate Clinton Association for inviting me to speak. It is a true honor to be asked to speak at an event like this that celebrates Clinton’s history and founding. The Association asked me to share why I chose to teach in the community I grew up in and why teachers should teach our younger generations about their community’s history. As a history teacher, I could spend the next several days giving you one hundred reasons, however, I will save that for my 8th grade students.

Becoming a teacher was something I knew I always wanted to do. My mom and dad will tell you they saw “the signs” at an early age.  I vividly remember beginning and ending each school day, and probably some weekends, helping my mom in her classroom with whatever tasks she needed done. This usually included changing behavior charts, turning the computers on or off, or running errands. At home, I was the Guinea pig to test a learning game she’d made to help students with their math facts or an activity to help them understand science.  I think she probably still has the first plaster-of-Paris fossil we made together before making with her…