[Creating Teacher-Student Relationships]

STUDENT: Hey guys, so we already counted 100 M&Ms.And now we are seeing the ones with the letter M facingupwards are the ones who are decayed,so we are putting those away.[INTERPOSING VOICES]

STUDENT: Good job, Lori.

AARON FERGUSON: Every student has a story.[Science Teacher, Pacifica High School, Oxnard, CA]And sometimes those stories are hard.Sometimes they make it very difficult for the studentto perform at a high level.And some days are just really, really tough for them.And as a teacher, we have to understand that weare more than just educators.We are pseudo-parents, at times.

AARON FERGUSON [continued]: And being there for those studentsis really one of the major callings that we have,at least I feel so.One thing, we get stuff coming in every day.And it's important to make sure that we don't allow dramato take over a class.So setting those boundaries with your students and saying,hey, I'm always here for you.But we're going to solve this problem in a better situation.

AARON FERGUSON [continued]: Because if you try and solve a drama problemin front of a class, you're going to create more drama.And that's not what we want.That's going to be breaking the trust with the students,you're going to lose the student.It's not it's not going to cause that positive relationshipthat you want.I tell some of the younger teachers

AARON FERGUSON [continued]: that I've worked with that you'regoing to have days where you're going to go homewith a ton of baggage.And one of the things is to understandthat you kind of have to let it go at the door,because there are times where you justwant to go home and cry.You do.And you want to release all that tension,because you are going to hold onto a lot.Because you are going to hear some amazing stories

AARON FERGUSON [continued]: and some painful stories.So it's really important to separate your personal lifefrom your teaching life, because it can hinder.But when you have a chance to really be transcendentin someone's life, so a young person's life,and be there and help them in a way you can,it's again, about going that extra mileand helping them in any way you possibly can.

AARON FERGUSON [continued]: Sometimes as an educator, I forgetthat my job is to prepare them for the real world.And then there's times where I really remember it,and I get these opportunities to really helpmy students prepare for that.And one of the things is professionals,talking about if you're going to produce a product,producing it to the best of your ability, going the extra mile,

AARON FERGUSON [continued]: doing the best you possibly can on it,and motivating with that, because thoseare the skills that are really going to take them fartherin life than getting an A on this test or an A on that test.It's not so much about what they know, it's about those skillsthat we can create in them.I don't know, maybe I'm wrong.But I really think that if we focus a lot on the character

AARON FERGUSON [continued]: values that a student has, and the way they carry themselvesand the professionalism that they emit,we can produce quality citizens, and that's our main job.I tend to model professionalism through my own actions.If I say I'm going to do something, I do it.Showing that I'm someone that you can trust on,being there for them when they need to,

AARON FERGUSON [continued]: showing up on time, all the time,being prepared for lessons, not figuring out as we go,we have the ability to change and adapt, absolutely.But being prepared, so we can adapt.You're not always perfect.But to do it every chance you getis an important character value.

AARON FERGUSON [continued]: And I like to think that when I do that as a teacher,I'm able to model that for my students.And the students respect that and they exemplify it too.So making sure that I know that I'm always on camera in essenceand they're always watching and doingwhat's right because I can.