Today I have decided to interview my favorite teacher at Santiago, Mr. Tyler! He is one of the business teachers here at Santiago High School, teaching computer science and Esports as well. I wanted to see what a normal school day looks like for him, and what it’s really like to be in his shoes as a teacher. Mr. Tyler starts his day earlier than most of us. He gets to school about an hour before class begins. That extra time is really important to him because it lets him set up the computers, get his room ready, and just prepare himself for the day. He told me it helps him focus and stay calm before the busy day with students begins. When class starts, he usually goes over the lesson, explains what the students are supposed to do, and then lets them work on their own. While they’re working, he walks around, answers questions, and helps out when needed. If he has a free moment, he uses it to grade or think about ways to make his lessons better.
Although teaching wasn’t always Mr. Tyler’s plan for his life, before becoming a teacher, he worked in business and accounting. That career kept him really busy. After a while, it became overwhelming. Once he had kids, he realized he wanted more balance in his life. Teaching gave him that. He was able to use what he studied in college and still be there for his family. At first, he only taught business, but over time, he also taught computer science, which gave him even more opportunities to share his knowledge with students.
When I asked him about his favorite part of the school day, he said it’s when he gets to connect with students in a real way. He especially enjoys it when students come up with business ideas, and he can help them refine and strengthen those ideas. For him, the best part is when the student finally gets it and everything makes sense to them. On the other hand, he admitted that some parts of teaching can be boring. Grading papers and writing referrals may not be exciting, but they’re still part of the job.
Something students might not know about Mr. Tyler is what he does outside of school. He really enjoys spending time with his family, going on vacations, and golfing. He also used to sing in a choir for many years and learned how to run sound for events. Most students probably wouldn’t guess that about him, but it shows that teachers have a lot of interesting hobbies and talents outside of the classroom.
At the end of the day, Mr. Tyler hopes his students walk away with more than just lessons about business or computer science. He told me, “I hope they take away something useful and tangible. It doesn’t always have to be the content. Sometimes it’s about appreciating the person who taught you.” This really shows how much he cares about his students as people, not just as kids who need to pass a class.
Talking with Mr. Tyler made me realize that teachers do a lot more than students might think. From the outside, it looks like they stand up, talk, and hand out assignments. But in reality, they put in extra time before and after class, deal with all the behind-the-scenes stuff like grading and paperwork, and still try their best to make class fun and valuable. Learning about his daily routine made me appreciate not only Mr. Tyler but also teachers in general, a lot more.
