Hillsborough teacher says U.S. history lessons, district mentoring help engage diverse students

An unnamed teacher told a meeting that teaching U.S. history in Hillsborough County schools "is more than just a job," and described moments when an entire class becomes deeply engaged in a lesson.

Why it matters: The teacher said strong local support for new teachers and the diversity of the student body — including students from seven different countries and an Air Force base about a mile away — contribute to classroom engagement and educator retention.

The teacher said mentoring was especially important early in the career. "My first 3 years here, I had a mentor, I had mentors at my school site, because the first few years is really, really hard," the teacher said. The teacher added that district and site administrators provided ongoing support throughout their career.

On classroom dynamics, the teacher described a recurring reward: "Every once in a great while I'll be telling a story about something that happened in history, and I'll look out and there's 32 kids that are hanging on, like, every word that I'm saying because all of a sudden they're interested in the stuff that we're talking about." The teacher said that bringing history to life and making it relevant helps students decide whether to repeat or avoid past actions.

The teacher also highlighted the school’s diversity and its impact on students' cultural exposure, saying, "This school in particular is really, really amazing, because we have such a diverse group of students ... I have kids from 7 different countries ... Just seeing how they blend in and they get along with kids that have been here forever ... is just a really great school to work at." The teacher noted the nearby Air Force base as part of the school's community context.

The teacher closed by noting a personal connection to the school: "I went here. So, yeah, definitely the school has a special place in my heart."