EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION

RED OAK — Mark Erickson, one of Red Oak Community School’s third grade teachers, has been notified he is the winner of the 2010 Excellence in Education Award.

Erickson, who accepted the Inman Primary third grade position after graduation from Simpson College in Indianola in 1998, has been teaching third grade in Red Oak for 13 years. His students and others think he is right where he belongs.
Erickson’s present and former students wrote letters, hoping their third grade teacher would win the award sponsored by Iowa State Education Association (ISEA), the Iowa Farm Bureau (IFBF), WHO Radio, KDSM Fox 17, and Staples.
The students’ letters were sent along with letters from Inman Primary staff and administration.
“I cannot think of a more deserving teacher,” said Robin Jones, secretary at Inman Primary. “He’s a phenomenal teacher, phenomenal parent, coach and colleague. He’s an all-round superb person.”
Inman Principal Buck Laughlin agrees. He remembers Erickson made an impression on him and the committee interviewing him 13 years ago.
Even then, they knew he wanted to be a teacher who would make a positive difference in students’ lives.
“Mark understands how to differentiate instruction to meet the needs of all students in his classroom,” Laughlin said.
“This award is truly about recognizing the educators who work hard on a daily basis and rarely get the recognition they so richly deserve,” said Chris Bern, president of the ISEA.
“It is clear Mark’s students receive encouragement, direction, and extra care above and beyond the average classroom experience,” Bern added.
“Mark’s creativity, passion and leadership skills all combine to make a tremendous impact in his classroom and beyond. This award truly is about teachers like Mark, who go the extra mile to make sure students are learning.”
Erickson’s interest in teaching began during high school in Cumberland-Massena.
“I spent time in high school as part of a work experience project in which I worked in elementary classrooms. The teachers let me do more than run off papers, and I found I liked working with kids,” Erickson said, “and, I was influenced by family members who are teachers.”
Two siblings and a sister-in-law are teachers. His wife, Janelle, is also a teacher, serving as the media specialist in both Washington Middle School and the Junior High.
In his classrooms, he asks students to adopt three guidelines for the year.
“I don’t want to take credit for the idea. I’ve borrowed it, but I want my students to be respectful, responsible and safe. We are a third grade team,” he said.
 “Almost daily I tell them we are to think of others before ourselves, and by now (December), I’m hearing kids saying that to others, and doing it.”
He admits observing his students applying the guidelines in their interactions are satisfying. He helps students hold themselves accountable for their own progress in subjects like math and spelling scores. The students use graphs to monitor their own progress, which helps build confidence in their skills.
Erickson also credits his parents for the principles he hopes to instill in the children in his classroom. They have been his role models in many respects.
“I’ve thought when I’m telling students to think of others before ourselves, I can almost hear my father telling us, sometimes in words, but often with actions, ‘It’s important to put others before ourselves.’”
His father never saw how enthused his son became about being in a classroom full of students. He passed away in 1998, the year Erickson took his first teaching job.
His mother, Nancy Erickson, did have advice for her son as his teaching career got underway.
“I remember Mom saying, ‘If the students don’t learn math or reading, they need to learn to be respectful and to put others before self.’”
Though Erickson has the opportunity to help shape character, he is earnest about discovering the learning style for each child and understanding their needs. He adjusts his teaching style and varies materials so each child can progressively comprehend the subject matter.
Overall, Erickson says he does not really have many discipline problems, and he’s grateful he has always had parents willing to back him up.
He said his most memorable times, besides when he overhears students applying his classroom guidelines, are those times when it is obvious the children are happy and are grasping new material he’s presenting.
“It’s when the light goes off, and you know a student gets what you’re teaching. You see it in their eyes or the way they react. And it’s when you see the kids are happy and smiling. Some of those moments really stand out,” he said as he reflected on highlights of his teaching career thus far.
When asked for tips this honoree would have for those considering or just beginning the teaching profession, Erickson paused and then said, “I think I’d tell them that they’re going to like it because it’s different everyday. If they enjoy kids and have patience, then they’re going to be fine.”
He knows not every day in the classroom will go exactly as planned. Erickson admits, “Overall, my days (in the classroom) are really enjoyable, but once in awhile I’ll have a day where I go home thinking, ‘Today was like the first day of teaching all over again.’”
However, the distance between those disappointing days is great enough to cause Erickson to add quickly, “I think this is what I’m meant to do and I’m thankful this is where God put me. And,” he said, “I’ve been able to learn from everybody.”
Part of the recognition award included a banquet and $1,000 for Erickson and $1,000 for the school from Iowa Farm Bureau, presented in Des Moines on November 18. Staples donated a $400 gift card to him as well.
Erickson said he thinks the school will use the money for their tech lab.
As for the money he personally received, Erickson said, “We’ll put some of the money into Angel Tree, which our church (First Covenant, Red Oak) is doing, and we’ll buy Christmas presents with some of it, too. I think we’ll get our son a computer because he doesn’t read yet.”
The Erickson’s son, Brett, may have good reason not to be excelling as reader just yet. He is only three.
Admitting some of his teaching techniques are from co-workers, Erickson said, “As far as this award goes,” Erickson said, “I want to say that there are lots of teachers I work with who deserve this award as much as I do.”
Of the fifty nominees, four were selected as runners-up and each received a $100 gift card, courtesy of Staples.