During the December mass, Mr. Culver won the Christ the Teacher Award which signified that as a teacher, he models after Christ both in school and as a Catholic. I interviewed him asking about his career and feelings on the award.
Q: How long have you been teaching here?
A: This is my 18th year teaching at Saint Joe
Q: What has been your favorite class to teach?
A: I really enjoy teaching all my classes but my favorite favorite…I’d have to say faith and science. I actually wrote the curriculum for faith and science and got it approved by the bishop so I kind of brought that class to Saint Joe. I just really enjoy teaching all my classes.
Q: How has your faith life influenced your teaching?
A: Well, if Saint Joe wasn’t Catholic, I wouldn’t be here. I’ve worked in a lot of secular organizations, worked in the Navy, all that kind of stuff and I really enjoy working at Saint Joe where I can just freely share my faith in ways that you can’t do in another job. So, it’s kind of why I’m here cause that really just is the most important part of my identity: my relationship with Christ.
Q: Were you surprised to win the award?
A: I was! I had no idea. My wife held it. So they inform your spouse and my wife gave me zero clues. She even came up with a plausible story on why she might be in school that day just in case I saw her. So yeah I was kind of surprised.
Q: Have you been to the luncheon yet?
A: No the luncheon is in March so I haven’t been to that yet.
Q: What does the award mean to you?
A: I’ve really given a lot to teaching. I mean, there’s lots of days I just want to go home and do absolutely nothing but I have to get some planning done, get some administration done, something for the department head or do a lot of grading and I go and do it because I put a lot into it, work with science club, all that kind of stuff. I’ve been pretty dedicated to the school and it was just a validation for a lot of time and effort and a lot of who I am goes into how I teach. It was very affirming so I really appreciate it.
