7 Fictional Film Educators I'd Hire for My School Faculty

If you treasure memories of a beloved educator in your life send them a card, email or give them a call to tell them how much they have inspired you. Teachers dedicate their hearts, time and energy to instruct, motivate and encourage. Teachers spend hours leading in the classroom and assisting students followed by even more hours after school grading, tutoring and attending meetings. Have you considered being a teacher? Have you ever observed a classroom or volunteered? If you are considering a career in education the best way to ensure you are right for the job is to spend time on the front lines. Teaching is one of the most difficult occupations in the world. Most teachers sacrifice their souls to guide children and adults toward a genuine love of learning. Usually, this sacrifice comes with unlimited bureaucracy and minimal monetary reward. There are those teachers who truly love what they do but are underpaid and unappreciated. If you were fortunate enough to have an outstanding teacher you will always remember them.

One of the most inspiring professors I have ever known was discovered my freshman year of college. During the first week of class he shared a beautiful poetic tribute to his rambunctious Norwich terrier, Nipper. His slide show of artistically edgy black and white photographs captured this sweet little dog frolicking on a beach, playing tag with the rolling waves. There was not one student or colleague of Dr. McMahon's who didn't love him. He inspired his students to observe, think deeply and absorb life. He encouraged me to submit poetry and essays to our college literary magazine and write articles for the newspaper. He gave me confidence in my ability as a writer while I was feeling like a failure for not passing Algebra II. He believed and encouraged my strengths without focusing on my weaknesses. Every school or university should have a Dr. McMahon. If you had to choose your own imaginary staff who would you hire?

Scott Voss is a 42-year-old disillusioned biology teacher and former collegiate wrestler. As usual in education, budget cutbacks jeopardize the music program which will result in teachers being laid off and children suffering without choir, concert or marching band. Concerned for both his colleagues and his students, Voss attempts to raise $48,000 in order to keep the music program alive.

He tries working as a night instructor for a citizenship class to earn extra cash. One of his students, Niko is a former mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter. Voss learns the loser of a fight still receives $10,000, which gives him the idea of raising money by fighting in MMA himself. Voss then begins fighting in small MMA fights and gradually gains more and more money for the school. How many teachers would be so dedicated as to be pummeled every weekend for the love of education? Earning money wrestling beats the hell out of selling sausage and cheese door to door or having weekend car washes. Not only does he save the music program, he inspires his students and begins to reignite the flame inside which motivated him to teach in the first place. Thank you, Mr. Voss for your dedication. You are hired!

If you want be a successful teacher you need to be able to relate to your students. Most importantly you need to have students understand material in a way that applies to their own lives. After several shake ups in his own personal affairs civilian business man Bill Rago finds himself in unusual circumstances. Rago is hired to teach a group of dysfunctional military recruits who are about to be kicked out of the Army. Using only his love of literature he begins to show the recruits how even the seemingly ancient lessons of Shakespeare are parallel to their own lives. In many respects, he is their last hope for a better future. "The choices we make dictate the life we lead." Mr. Rago, please review your contract and sign. We need you.

Sharon Norbury is an inspiring, self-actualized and demanding teacher. She needs to be tough and pushy because she teaches the majority of high schools students least favorite subject, math. Ms. Norbury is tireless, intelligent, caring and one of the few teachers successfully turning snobby, bitchy schoolgirls into more compassionate human beings. She uses anger management techniques and calming exercises to aide her frustrated students plus she instructs positive morale boosting, ice-breaking meetings to get the student body working together. She keeps teen aged girls and boys from physically and emotionally tearing each other apart. Sharon Norbury possess's the high self-esteem and the courage needed to handle a classroom full of rude, self-absorbed and obnoxious teenagers. I will renew her contract ASAP.

Okay, so Louanne Johnson is not a fictional character but a real life bad ass teacher. Johnson had the strength and integrity to stand up and reach out to a group of troubled students everyone else had kicked to the curb. After high school, Louanne herself enrolled at Indiana State University of Pennsylvania but dropped out after a few weeks and enlisted in the Navy. She wrote about her experience of the service in her 1986 book Making Waves: A Woman in This Man's Navy. She later transferred to the U.S. Marine Corps. On leaving the Marines, she gained a masters degree in English and in 1989 went to teach in California. With her expertise in English, karate and disciplinary action she is every school administrators dream and every cocky disruptive students nightmare. Hired!

Glenn Holland is a talented musician and composer who has been relatively successful in the exhausting life of a professional musical performer. In an attempt to enjoy more free time with his wife and to enable him to compose a piece of orchestral music, Mr. Holland accepts a full time teaching position. Unfortunately for Glenn Holland, he is soon forced to realize that his status as a music teacher makes him an unimportant figure among the staff, lingering somewhere between janitor and school nurse. Ultimately, he does become close friends with other teachers like the schools beloved and much touted football coach. His colleagues and administrators remind him often that one should never teach purely for financial reasons. Humbled, Mr. Holland begins to creatively use rock and rolll as a way to guide children's understanding of classical music. Reluctantly, he discovers a great joy in teaching. Seeing his students as individuals for the first time, he helps them excel and inspires their own unique talents. A teacher not only educates students, they continue to educate themselves every single day. Please sign your contract, Greg.

Admittedly, Dewey Finn didn't start off as the best example for children or even other human beings for that matter. Dewey lives in the moment without regret and with passion for his art. Though technically not a "teacher" or even a substitute teacher, Dewey motivates curiosity, creates excited enthusiasm and a love of learning. Isn't that what great teaching is all about?

Underneath all the rebellion and scruff is a warm hearted caring educator who inspires children to do what they love. Dewey not only challenges the status quo but encourages parents, teachers, and the school principal to loosen up and enjoy life. Never give up on your dreams is a lesson we want all teachers to impress on children. Mr. Dewy Finn, please report to the principal's office and sign your contract.

This resume was submitted by English teacher John Keating. He was hired on the spot!

"We don't read and write poetry because it's cute. We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. And the human race is filled with passion. And medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for"

John Keating is a former Rhodes Scholar turned English teacher whose non traditional teaching methods have been shunned by some stodgy uptight school masters. He is fond of instructing outdoors surrounded by the beauty of nature. Inside the classroom he inspires free thinking and self expression by drawing out the powerfully pure latent emotions buried deep in his students.

He is also known to frequently quote his literary muse Walt Whitman, "O me! O life!... of the questions of these recurring; of the endless trains of the faithless... of cities filled with the foolish; what good amid these, O me, O life?"

Answer. That you are here - that life exists, and identity; that the powerful play goes on and you may contribute a verse."That the powerful play goes on and you may contribute a verse. What will your verse be?"

Mr. Keating is the most brilliant addition to our staff. Seize your contract and welcome aboard, O Captain, My Captain!