Teacher of the Week: Robbie Sirls | J.S. Waters School

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Chatham Educator of the Week

School: J.S. Waters School

Grades/subjects you teach: 7th and 8th graders

E-mail address: rsirls@chatham.k12.nc.us

Date, place of birth: August 27, Moore County

Education (high school & college attended, degrees): High School 12th grade & a small business class at CCCC in the 1980s.

Brief work history: Kmart for 19 years. Currently 24 years at J.S. Waters School and nine years as YMCA site director at the after-school program at J.S. Waters.

Teaching honors/awards: Instructional Assistant of the Year three times at J.S. Waters and two times as county Instructional Assistant for Chatham County Schools, 2013 and 2019-2020.

Hobbies/interests outside teaching: Reading and going to the beach.

Family: Married with two sons and one great daughter.

On teaching

What led you to a career as a teacher?

I wanted to help in the school my children were in.

Who were your favorite teachers as you went through school, and what did you learn from them?

Mrs. and Mrs. Richard Branch, I learned how to be a great student and a leader.

Has becoming a teacher been all you expected it would be?

Yes

Has teaching changed since you were a student?

Yes

What “makes your day” as a teacher?

When students smiles and are happy when they have succeeded on a test or understand what they are doing.

What’s working in schools today?

Teachers helping students to be leaders.

What’s not working?

Lack of parent involvement

What’s your favorite memory of your first teacher?

How helpful and understanding she was.

How would your “teacher” persona handle you as a student?

I would be one of the quiet students and no problem for the teacher.

Best piece of advice for other teachers?

Love your job!

For students?

Follow the rules, study, do your work.

For parents?

Make sure they stay in touch with teachers and that their child knows how to behave in school.

If you were superintendent for a day, you’d:

Give the teachers a raise!

What about your job would surprise your non-teaching friends the most?

How students do not behave.

If you could somehow magically instill one truth into the heads of your students, what would it be?

To behave.

When you think about today’s kids, you:

See our future!

If one of your students was asked for a one-word description of you by a student who hadn’t had you in class, what would that one word be?

Strict

Favorite movie about school or teaching:

“To Sir With Love”

How would you summarize your teaching philosophy?

By the handbook, to be fair to all students.

What five things must every teacher know?

1. Be prepared

2. Have extra supplies for students in need.

3. Wear a smile

4. Be understanding all students are not the same.

5. Enjoy your job!

What’s special about your classroom?

It is a quiet learning place.

What’s special about your school?

We are a small school so everyone knows each other and their families.

The most unusual question you’ve ever gotten from a student?

Are you older than dirt?