Teacher feature: Thad Wilkins, Mount Vernon High School

MOUNT VERNON - As the director of choral activities at Mount Vernon High School, Thad Wilkins sees students' participation in choir as a 'chance to explore their own abilities.”

'No matter where they're at on the spectrum of talent, you continue to develop the person,” said Wilkins, who also directs the eighth-graders in the Mount Vernon Community School District. 'At the same time, the ensemble gives the person a larger group to be a part of - which gives them more meaning than just the individual dynamic.”

That personal growth spills into other areas of students' lives, he said.

'It's not instant gratification,” he said. 'But it really develops self-confidence.”

Wilkins, 37, earned his bachelor's degree from Wartburg College and has been teaching for 15 years. He lives in Lisbon with his wife Jill, son Hagen and a dog named Mozart.

The Gazette is featuring Wilkins as part of an ongoing series of stories spotlighting educators in the Corridor. To nominate someone to be featured, send an email to Molly Duffy, K-12 education reporter, at molly.duffy@thegazette.com.

Q: What is your favorite time of the year?

A: Solo/ensemble contest time. Getting extra time with kids one-on-one or in a small group is really rewarding, and I see so much growth from students. It still amazes me how kids surprise themselves with something that I've seen in them from the beginning.

Q: What is one of the hardest conversations you've had at school?

A: Anytime we've had to deal with suicide or the death of a classmate is really difficult, but it gets at the core of what we do as teachers. It is so important to be real and understanding of the human component, while at the same time providing familiarity, steadiness and support that students really need.

Second, I have changed districts twice, and telling the students you are moving on is extremely difficult. At some level, it feels like a total betrayal of the trust you've developed. I have kids everyday for four or five years during some of their most informative years. You really develop a sense of trust during that time, and there are few things more painful than letting that go.

Q: What would you be doing if you weren't a teacher?

A: Go into coaching, own a hardware store, perform as a singer or trumpet player, or become a full-time professional fisherman. I would pick something I'm passionate about and strive to be the very best at it.

Q: Latest you've stayed at school?

A: Probably around 1 a.m., don't really know, although I'm here all the time. I believe in staying until you get all you need to get done for the day. However, I don't take my job home. Once I'm home, I don't work on school work with the exception of looking through music I might use.

Q: What's something students probably don't know about you?

A: I really don't think the students have any idea how competitive I am, and how much athletics really were a part of my life growing up. For most of my childhood, music was something I did for fun, but baseball, football and basketball were my true passions.

Q: Best trick to get kids to pay attention?

A: No tricks. Just be knowledgeable and passionate while maintaining high expectations. People want to be good and want to be a part of something good. It's really not hard if you have knowledge and passion.

Q: Favorite teacher when you were a kid?

A: Two stand out to me. David Griffin began his career at Waverly-Shell Rock and was my choral teacher in seventh and eighth grade. He really instilled the passion for music within me.

Alan Hagen was the longtime high school choral director at Waverly-Shell Rock. Although he retired after my sophomore year of high school, his classes were where my wife and I really got to know each other - and we subsequently named our son Hagen.

Nominate a Teacher

The Gazette is continuing a series to spotlight educators in the Corridor. To nominate someone to be featured, send an email to Molly Duffy, K-12 education reporter, at molly.duffy@thegazette.com. Please include information about the educator and why you think they stand out in their profession.

l Comments: (319) 398-8330; molly.duffy@thegazette.com