It’s hard to believe summer will be drawing to an end soon.  As students head back to school in August, Good News Wants to Know… Who was your favorite teacher, in what subject and why?

 

My favorite teacher was in Junior High School. He was a physics professor named BoBo Anderson. He was able to take a very challenging course and make it fun and interesting. He pushed his students in a way to challenge us to think outside of the square. As a result, we advanced far above what a normal classroom teacher could accomplish. We visited Cape Canaveral in Coco Beach, Florida, for a night rocket launch. BoBo worked with the 118 elements and made each one a fascination. Later in college, I found myself at the top of my class and well ahead of my counterparts. In fact, I knew most of the answers to the questions before the professor could finish writing the tasks on the board.

I still remember him to this day and the profound impact he had on my ability to grasp complex problems and logically solve them. Tough subjects can be made simple with a disciplined approach to problem-solving.

Andy Mitchell, CEO, The Fairwinds Group, and President, Operation Lift Hope

 

I was blessed to go to an excellent high school – Fairmont East – in Kettering, Ohio. None of my family had been to college and our parents were insistent that my brother and I “go to college” so I was in a college prep curriculum, which today would be viewed as AP courses. My high school advanced math/calculus teacher, Mrs. Juniper, was a favorite teacher who greatly impacted my life. She was tough, insisted on the best from us as students and at the same time she built into us a confidence and vision: “you can do this” “reach for the stars.”

William “Bill” C. Davell, Director, Tripp Scott Attorneys at Law

 

As a University President, I have scores of favorite and impactful Christian scholars and teachers.  My most recent “favorite” is Dr. Suzanne Cardona, Associate Professor of Biology at Palm Beach Atlantic University.  Dr. Cardona recently won the Charles and Hazel Corts Award for Outstanding Teaching due to her superior teaching and extra mile efforts with students in the University’s rigorous science program.

William Fleming, President, Palm Beach Atlantic University

 

Mrs. Breslin and Mr. Joynt were my favorite teachers of all-time. Mrs. Breslin was the first teacher to encourage me to write and made me feel like someone that could find interesting ways to say things with a pencil and paper. Mr. Joynt was hilarious, real and responsible for making boring things fun to absorb. He’s also responsible for instilling in me a desire to challenge the status quo and embrace every single conspiracy theory known to man, including my eternal fear that aliens live among us.

Bob Denison, President, Denison Yachting

 

I had a wonderfully godly teacher in kindergarten at Princeton Christian School in Homestead in the early 70’s. She was so caring and shined the Light of Christ in her words and actions daily. It was real and I knew it.

Charles L. Bender, III, Founding CEO, Place of Hope

 

One of my favorite teachers growing up and going to public schools in Broward County was Chip Shealy, my high school history teacher from Northeast High School. I am fond of him because we share a nickname, but we also stayed in touch, and I am honored to be able to represent him in the Florida Legislature. I am doing my best to put his teaching to work, as well as our nickname!

Chip LaMarca, State Representative, Florida House District 93

 

Bill Marina, an upper division professor from Florida Atlantic University, was the best teacher I ever had, and I still use things he taught me nearly 40 years ago. He understood and clearly explained the interplay between private enterprise and government intervention and the way the free enterprise, capitalist system functions best.

Collins Forman, Jr., P.A.

 

My high school English teacher was my favorite since she gave me A’s in her class and believed in me. She inspired me to major in English, teach high school, become a public speaker and eventually write a book.

Deborah Cusick, FAU Campus Volunteer, Intervarsity Christian Fellowship

 

My favorite teacher was Donald Ott, my high school speech and debate teacher and coach. He was a large man, who constantly challenged me, complimented me when warranted, and pushed me to compete in a subject I learned to love. The timing of his stepping into my life was perfect and led towards me becoming passionate about academic success when I had about given up. I learned that the abilities I had, when focused properly, could be used for so much more than I comprehended before meeting him. Bravo to Coach Ott!

Dennis DeMarois, CEU and Executive Director, Gathering Palm Beach County

 

I will always thank God for my third grade teacher, Mrs. Nielson. After being sick with life-threatening rheumatic fever the year prior, she took a special interest in myself and my friend with leukemia, both sickly and mocked by other children. Mrs. Nielson was a treasure to two grateful little girls.

Dolores King-St. George, Station Manager, 89.3, Moody Radio

 

My favorite teacher taught biology and physics in high school. I enjoyed the classes because he always tied the lesson into examples of how the principals of physics and biology enhanced our daily lives. As students when we understood the benefits then we wanted to know the science behind the how and why.

Don Campion, Founder/CEO, Banyan Air Service, Inc.

 

My favorite teacher was Duane Rexroth. He was my geography teacher, but more important my basketball coach. Coach Rexroth had a very high level of integrity and character. Although I am not sure at 17 years old I valued the importance of character, but we were all drawn to him! As I look back, it is clear the impact he had in my life!

Fred Scarbrough, DVM, Founder, Scarbrough Animal Hospital and Hope South Florida

 

My favorite teacher was Don Regan from Sunrise Middle School. He was a former Air Force pilot and in addition to being a great science teacher, he took us on many campouts to the Everglades and Keys, which I still remember today.

George R. Moraitis, Jr., Moraitis, Cofar, Karney, Moraitis & Quailey

 

My favorite teacher was George Cubberly, marketing professor at the University of Miami during my freshman year. His teaching strategy was to get our attention by engaging in storytelling. He gave me clarity when I learned that your marketing is working if you have enough sales.

Gregg Wallick, President/CEO, Best Roofing

 

Susan Hopkins, my speech communications teacher is unforgettable to me because she took time to get to know me and my strengths and weaknesses. She challenged me to be a better researcher, writer and speaker.

Karen Granger, Community Relations Director, 4KIDS Palm Beach

 

My favorite teacher was one I had for biology in high school. I am not typically interested in science; however, her exuberance for the subject was unavoidable. Her passion, humor and pleasure for the subject made the learning process enjoyable and relatable. She turned my worst subject into my best one.

Oksana Horton, Artistic Director, Revelation Ministries

 

Mrs. Hirtle, my fourth grade English teacher, was the best since she was my “first love.” That explains it all!!

Omar Aleman, Aleman & Associates

 

My favorite teacher was Coach Robert Williams, who was my physical education instructor in the 11th grade at Blanche Ely High School and also my high school football coach. I appreciated him greatly because he came after me and convinced me to return to high school after I had dropped out of high school to work at the farmers market in Pompano Beach, Florida.

O’Neal Dozier, Pastor, The Worldwide Christian Center

 

In 3rd Grade, my teacher made a big impression on me. My mom was ill with her 7th child, and we all felt a little lost without her strong presence daily. Mr. Mahoney had just lost his child, but he put his grief aside to take me aside and pray with me every day, giving me strength and comfort. In looking back, one can see how God used him to minister to the children that were in his care. I often think that teachers can impact children, and they may never know what kind of impression they have had on a child, but it can be life changing!

Patricia Colangelo, EdS, Director of Operations – Florida, Trinity International University

 

My favorite high school teacher was Charlotte Richter. She loved to share her passion for English and literature which has helped shape how I read the Bible today in its narrative context.

Patrick H. Wrisley, D. Min., Senior Pastor & Teaching Elder, First Presbyterian Church

 

My favorite teacher in school was my PE Coach…(not because that’s what I do for a living LOL) but, he had a way of seeing the very best in me and encouraging me to excellence in everything that I did!!! He always had a look in his eye when he spoke to me that communicated “he believed in me” and my potential!!! That spoke VOLUMES to me as a young man! I thank God for my Coach… I pray I can pass on a little of the same!!!!

Coach Rick Andreassen, Founder/President, SAINTS of Florida P.E. and SAINTS International Sports Ministry

 

My favorite teacher was Mr. Storr in fourth grade. He had that amazing combination of humor and hard work, always making class fun, but challenging his students to be the best they could be.

Robin Martin, Executive Director, Rebuilding Together Broward

 

My favorite teacher was Mr. Donate. During my high school days at Stranahan. He taught physics and was the first science teacher I ever had that made a science subject interesting. Maybe the only science class I ever took that I got an A in too!

Romney C. Rogers, Managing Partner, Rogers Morris & Ziegler, LLP

 

My favorite teacher was Mr. Edwin Breed who taught music/band. He was very instrumental (no pun intended) in getting me to attend college. I played the trumpet in the high school band, and he arranged for me to get a scholarship to further my education. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to use the scholarship due to an accident, but his words of encouragement inspired me to attend anyway. He was a firm believer in getting a good education and he certainly inspired me to thrive for the best!

Dr. Rosby L. Glover, Executive Director, Mount Bethel Human Services Corportion

 

My favorite teacher was Scot McKnight who taught “The Theology of Matthew” in my first year of PhD studies.  He was kind, humble and a wonderful model for those of us who were planning on going into teaching as a vocation.  He always had time for students and was glad to meet for lunch or coffee when asked.  He modeled Christlikeness in his study, his teaching and his spiritual life.  I count it a privilege today to call him my friend and to be able to ask his advice whenever I need it.

When I grow up, I want to be a teacher like him.

Samuel Lamerson, PhD, Professor of New Testament, Knox Theological Seminary

 

My favorite teacher was my American History teacher, Mr. Lucas, and he was also one of my football coaches. Mr. Lucas brought history alive for me, and I am still a history buff today, thanks to him. He also instilled a strong work ethic in my through football practice and games. His mantra was used by many, but he taught us all: “practice alone doesn’t make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect.”

Thomas L. Lukasik, Vice President Community Engagement, 4KIDS of South Florida

 

Teacher: Mr. Howard Popowitz (American Literature)

He was the “only Jewish teacher in an All Boys Catholic High School” and the one who introduced me to the Great Henry David Thoreau as a 15-year-old sophomore. I learned all about “Civil Disobedience”; I live in a log home on my own Walden Pond and I’m a life-time member of the Henry David Thoreau Society in Concord, Massachusetts.

Willy Guardiola, Christian on a Mission