Nixa High School has many teachers who have left a legacy that is still echoed through halls as fond memories or as characters with importance unknown to them. Though a teacher can simply be good at teaching, what they leave at Nixa is in the hearts of the students.
“I always thought my job was to advocate for the well-being and success of my students,” said retired counselor Todd Mincks. “I wanted to empower them to find their best pathway through school and adolescence, and to help them gain insights to health and happiness in the present and beyond.”
With time comes change, and while students haven’t changed, their situations have, which required adaptation from many teachers throughout their career.
“I think the biggest change in students is in a direct response to the environment, whatever environment they’ve been raised on. They’re products of their environment,” retired English teacher Jon Stammers said. “So it’s not that the students have changed … but what has happened is the world around them, whether it’s the home or it’s the community [has changed].”
One of the most noticeable differences in the world when comparing now and the past is the rapid evolution of technology. More specifically, how social media and the internet has influenced how students act.
“For every good thing those platforms provided, there were dozens of problems created,” Mincks said. “High school, unfortunately, is a breeding ground for insensitivity and insecurity. … Consequently, the challenges I faced with my students became more complex and often times more serious in nature. … That’s why I believe school counselors are more important than ever. I think our society is making slow progress in this area, but good school counselors are a vital piece to keep moving in the right direction.
The definition of a good school counselor can be ambiguous, but Minck’s experience has given him a particular scale.
“If a counselor can be genuine with students, meet them where they are without judgement, and display true empathy, they will make a difference with kids,” Mincks said. “That’s how I would measure success in the counseling field.”
While the general definition of success can be difficult to define, the definition Stammers has is defined in the legacy he hopes to leave
“I hope my students remember me as a nice and caring guy, who did the best he could do to help students navigate Nixa High school and whatever problems came their way,” Stammers said.
Teri Gunther, a science teacher that once retired from a school at Kansas City has continued her career here at NHS after a three month interval. She taught for 32 years, and in that time learned to balance her work, which many teachers can find valuable.
“My advice would be to focus on what you can control, prioritize what matters most, and give yourself permission to step back when needed,” Gunther said. “At the same time, remember that every day brings something new, and it’s the students who make the work meaningful and worthwhile.”
