The Greatest Superhero

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Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past several years, you've probably noticed Hollywood’s recent obsession with superheroes. It seems every other blockbuster has been about a character with superhuman powers or abilities. Iron Man, Thor, Captain America, the Avengers, X-Men, Spider-Man -- superheroes have dominated the box office. This March, the world will have the opportunity to watch two of the most popular and powerful superheroes battle it out on-screen in the new movie Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. Wonder Woman is even scheduled to make an appearance. It should be, well, super.

​Many like to debate -- Which superhero is the best? Who is the greatest, the most powerful? Everyone has his/her opinion on the subject, but I submit to you that the greatest superhero of all is none of the ones mentioned above. The most powerful superheroes on the planet live among us. If you're reading this, chances are you're one of them. The greatest superheroes are teachers. Don't believe me? Watch this short video.

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Larry Gilmer is a coach. Larry Gilmer is a teacher of young men. Larry Gilmer is a superhero to those around him. Just listen to what his former players and colleagues had to say about him. What they remembered from their time in his “class” had nothing to do with wins and losses. What made an impact on their lives was his character, how he treated his players, how he consistently told them he loved them.

​What we do as educators goes far beyond academics. Teaching foundational skills is important, yes. We should consistently pursue excellence in our instructional practices, helping every student master the academic standards. But we have to remember that our impact far exceeds what our students learn in reading, writing, math, and science.

What will my students remember from their time in my class and school, besides vocabulary definitions, the stages of The Water Cycle, and how to add fractions with unlike denominators? What will your students remember?

• The gentle tone of voice you used when responding to students?
• How you always held the door open for others?
• How you gave high fives/hugs to your students as they entered your classroom each morning?
• How you always wore a smile, despite the challenges and frustrations of the day?
• How you called students by name, making them feel special?
• When you noticed and complimented your student’s new shoes, the ones she was so excited to wear to school?
• That you took time to play tetherball with them during recess?

As teachers, we are superheroes. We wield incredible power on a daily basis, the power to transform the lives of children. It’s a bit scary if you stop and think about it, but it’s also exciting to consider how our actions and attitudes can positively impact students for the rest of their lives.

​Don’t think our students are watching our every move? Watch this short story about what one of my former students remembered about me. What will yours remember?