Gibson Southern is often recognized for success in its academics, in its athletics and in its fine arts. From the football team winning a State title in 2021 to the Spell Bowl team making it to the State finals in 2023 to the Lady Titan basketball team claiming a State title in 2024, one might ask how do the students keep up with everything going on with the school. The best way to answer that is to take a look at the people working with students every day of the academic year: the teachers.
During the recent 50th year celebration, both old and new teachers came together to celebrate Gibson Southern’s 50 years of growth. Some veteran teachers even talked to their past students, having fun reconnecting to the adult versions of the people they knew years ago.
One of Gibson Southern’s most veteran teachers is Patrick Bengert. Bengert was a history teacher for 28 years before switching to physical education for the past three years. He has taught 31 out of the 50 years that Gibson Southern has been open, and he has seen his fair share of new teachers. However, one thing he believes is that they have an advantage over the older ones.
“The idea of different apps and software has just exploded, and they spend more time in college to find those kinds of things and how to use them for students,” Bengert said.
There are new ways to incorporate technology into the classroom and new approaches to teaching, things that new teachers bring to the classroom and their schools, which Bengert feels is a huge plus for students.
Some other teachers, like English teacher Elizabeth Elpers, believe that new teachers are more similar to older teachers than they think. From struggling during bad days to soaring on great ones, she believes that all teachers go through a time in their lives when they struggle a bit, no matter how much they love their jobs.
Elpers loves working for Gibson Southern in general. She enjoys being there for her students, and so do most other teachers in the building.
“At the end of the day, I love working with these students, and I love working for this school,” Elpers said. “I think, what else would I be doing when I love going to work every day. Yeah, there are hard days, but that’s with any job, and 99% of my days are great. I’ll take that one bad day.”
One of the newest teachers at Gibson Southern, history and English teacher Devin Murphy, agrees with Elpers, having his struggles but overall finding much joy in teaching. When having a rough time in the classroom, he seeks advice from his coworkers. Being relatively new to teaching, Murphy has found it a struggle at times to handle everything.
“The fact that I’m so close to you guys (the students) in age, I would say I have a hard time asserting my authority,” Murphy said. “I have already gone to Mr. Adams a lot for advice. Along with my department chairs, Mr. Grigsby and Mr. Susott. They have definitely helped me.”
Whether experienced or new at the front of the classroom, in the end these minds are what shape not only the current students of today’s society but also those still to come. Gibson Southern teachers are truly a driving force in the lives of their students..
“Gibson is a very strong community,” history teacher Marvin Susott said. “From the teacher standpoint, I think they have a strong connection with students.”
