Aidan Smith (left) was selected as Judy Dunbar's inspirational student.
Medical Lake Middle School student Aidan Smith was not sure of the reason he was summoned to counselor Ted Koch's office on June 2.
After Smith took his seat, he heard the voice of his social studies teacher, Judy Dunbar, who was in the room, telling him all of the different ways he's inspired her to be a better teacher, such as his willingness to help her after class, or how he is always prepared with questions.
Smith was Dunbar's selection for the middle school's "Inspirational Students" project, which staff implemented this year.
"I was surprised, I don't always get picked for this type of stuff," Smith said of his reaction to Dunbar selecting him as her student.
For the project, all of the building's teachers identified students who inspire them to be better educators. This could be for various reasons. In addition to the aforementioned reasons, Dunbar noted that Smith is patient and will take lessons from her class and apply them to other subjects.
Once a student is selected, they are taken to Koch's office where they listen to a voice over of their teacher reading them an inspirational message. Unbeknownst to the student, Koch is recording their reaction. Staff will forward the video to that child's parents as a keepsake.
"The reaction of kids who receive that praise from their teachers is pretty powerful," Koch said.
Medical Lake Middle School Principal Sylvia Campbell learned about the project from other schools during a conference. Oak Park High School, in Kansas, Mo., is one of the schools that have used this type of project. Campbell came back with the idea and presented it to staff, who embraced the project.
"How often do you sit down with someone and tell them you inspire them?" Campbell asked. "We thought it would be a good project, especially with the (learning) climate."
The project is the school's latest effort from staff to boost positivity around the building.
Koch said the project has gotten positive feedback from teachers, students and parents, and staff will carry it forward to next year.
Al Stover can be reached at [email protected].
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