In a small school, teachers and students can build a strong relationship because they are in class together multiple times. For some students, however, their connection to their teachers is even deeper because that teacher is their parent, and this is true for six of the seventh graders whose parents work at the school.
One of these students is seventh-grader Ella Eikmeier, whose mom is English teacher Ginger Eikmeier.
“It’s kind of weird having them as your teacher because if they share an experience to your class, you’re most likely involved in it and it’s embarrassing. And when something big happens between your class, they always want to learn more details. You can’t hide anything from them because they are always around you and your classmates and they hear all of the latest gossip,” Ella said.
Even though it could be a little embarrassing at times, Ella said having a parent as her teacher does have some perks.
“If you miss school or want to know what you’re doing the next day in class, you can just ask them at home. Since you have to be smart to be a teacher, they can help you study for tests more indepth at home,” Ella said.
Seventh-grader Daisy Freeman, whose mom is English teacher Nealy Freeman, agrees with the perks of having her mom as a teacher.
“I like having her as a teacher because I feel like she knows how I work and what pace I work at, so it’s helpful to have someone who kind of knows you. Plus being able to just see her and talk to her whenever is nice,” Daisy said.
Daisy and Ella see their parents in class, but Reis Johnson, whose mom is library para Maleah Johnson, sees her mom at school even though she is not taught by her.
“I rarely see my mom throughout the day, but I go and talk to her in the mornings and stuff. It’s just nice to see her around school even though she’s not my teacher,” Reese said.
The parents of these students also enjoy seeing their kids throughout the day.
“I really just love that even though she’s a seventh grader and almost a teenager, she’s still excited to see her mom during the day,” Maleah Johnson said.
Not only are these parents able to form stronger bonds with their kids, but they are also able to build bonds with the class as a whole.
“I thought it would be weird teaching the seventh graders in general because I’ve known so many of them outside the classroom as Ella’s friends and classmates. However, it was fun to get to teach this group of students that I already knew more than most. I think we will be able to have an even stronger student-teacher connection since they also know me as a parent of their peers, and I’m looking forward to getting to teach them throughout their high school years,” Ginger Eikmeier said.
Nealy Freeman agrees that building relationships and stronger connections is a benefit to teaching her daughter.
“We both thought it was going to be weird at first, but it really wasn’t. I am not much different as a teacher than I am as a mom. Plus, making connections with other students is kind of like part of my job. I think Daisy being my student and my daughter just makes this connection stronger,” Nealy Freeman said.
Even though having a parent as a teacher may sound like a nightmare situation for some, these students have shown us that there are many upsides for both the student and the teacher.
“Since you already have a strong relationship with them, when you have them for the first time you don’t have to worry about making a good impression. I am looking forward to having my mom as a teacher in the future. I think her relationship with me and the people in my class is a really good one,” Ella said.
