By DAVID TELLER
Staff Reporter
Cheney High School teacher Steve Arensmeyer doesn't teach for accolades or awards, but he got a good one this year as the students selected him as Teacher of the Year.
The unpretentious language arts and history teacher was shocked during the senior recognition assembly by the recognition and cannot explain what he did to set him apart from the rest of the high school faculty.
“I don't know,” Arensmeyer said. “I've been humbled by the whole thing.”
He is quick to deflect praise onto his colleagues describing them as “fantastic teachers and professionals.” Arensmeyer said he is amazed that he was singled out from such a group of people.
The 17-year veteran of Cheney High School grew up in Townsend, Mont., and was a double English and history major at Montana State University. He later earned his masters degree from Eastern Washington University. Arensmeyer said writing is his stronger skill.
“I'm maybe a better history teacher than an English teacher,” he said.
Arensmeyer settled in Cheney 10 years ago because he wanted his children to attend school in the district. he also frequently walks to work.
After some thought about his connections with the students, Arensmeyer said he treats them the way he would want to be treated. He said he occasionally sings in class and uses a good deal of humor to “cajole them in the right direction.”
He holds students' interest by doing interactive projects. After the projects are complete, students vote for the best one with M&Ms. The winner gets to eat their votes. He also gets students ready for tests by playing an adapted version of “Jeopardy.”
Arensmeyer challenges students to think critically by prompting them with “sticky questions” like a passage from Abraham Lincoln about whether he could save the union by freeing the slaves versus not freeing the slaves as saving the union was really Lincoln's concern. Arensmeyer prompts the question, “Was Abraham Lincoln a racist?”
The Washington Assessment of Student Learning does not affect Arensmeyer's English class as it is an advanced placement (AP) level 10th grade class that he team teaches with Randy Hunt. Arensmeyer teaches the English aspect and Hunt teaches the history portion to the double sized class. The two teachers feed off of each other.
In the past, Arensmeyer has also taught remedial level reading, which he said he enjoyed. He said reaching those students and helping them along is entirely different than the AP students, who he said keep him on his toes.
“It's easy to do a great job when you got great students,” Arensmeyer said.
The students aren't the only people he appreciates. He also praises the administration and the people who have supported him, like his wife and his father, who was a math teacher. Arensmeyer is grateful for his colleagues. He said Jeff Butler is twice the teacher he is and Darrelyn McDermott is his hero.
“There's no way I'll leave Cheney,” Arensmeyer said. “This is the best place to work.”
David Teller can be reached at [email protected]
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