SC woman finally follows teaching dream 5/17/2009 9:09 PM By ANNA BROWN The Union Daily Times
UNION -- Being laid off from her job eight years ago was one of the best things that could have happened to her, Anna Roark says.
Facing unemployment gave her the impetus she needed to do something she had wanted to do for a long time - return to college and become a teacher.
Eight years later, the Union County High School mathematics teacher has been chosen as the county's teacher of the year. She was chosen from a field of "Teachers of the Year" representing each of the county's schools. She will now compete for the title of state teacher of the year.
"It's all very humbling for me," she said. "I just think of it as this is what I am supposed to do - this is my responsibility and obligation as a teacher - to come in and do the best I can do every day to educate children. It's humbling to get an award for doing exactly what I am supposed to be doing."
Union County High School Principal Joe Walker said Roark is one of the top 10 professional educators he has been fortunate to work with in his career.
"She is dependable, prompt, thorough and consistent in all that she does at Union County High School," he said.
Roark often asks for or volunteers for extra duties and responsibilities which she knows will enhance the lives of students.
"She is always early and stays later than normal most days," Walker said. "She provides assistance to any and all students that seek help and even provides assistance to students not on her rosters."
She puts the students and their needs ahead of all other things, Walker said.
"She is truly a deserving recipient of 'Teacher of the Year' recognition and I am proud she represents our school," he said.
Joni P. Crocker, a fellow math teacher at Union County High, said Roark truly cares that her students succeed.
"This is evident in the extra efforts she puts forth to ensure that her students master the standards for each of the math courses she teaches," she said. "Mrs. Roark begins her school day in her classroom at 7 a.m. During that time she works with various students one on one to give them the extra help they need with their mathematics studies. Mrs. Roark also spends countless afternoons helping students."
Roark's dream of being a teacher began when she was a little girl. During the summer when school was out she would have a pretend classroom outside and play teacher.
After graduating from Whitmire High School in 1987, Roark attended USC-Union for a year and a half before transferring to USC-Columbia. She dropped out of college and got married. For the next 10 years she worked at Carlisle Finishing where her father also was employed. She said she constantly talked to her co-workers about her dream of returning to college.
Roark's second marriage was to Scott Roark of Union.
"While we were dating I gave my heart and life to God and I have been a different person ever since," she said.
In 2001, Roark found out she would be losing her job. Scott, who had gotten a better paying job at BMW, convinced her that now was the time to return to college.
"He asked me how long it would take to complete my degree, I told him two years and he told me to get it done," Roark said with a chuckle.
Roark earned a bachelor of science degree in secondary education with a concentration in mathematics from USC-Upstate. She was hired by Dowl Thompson, who was principal of Union High in 2003.
She is going through the process to receive National Board Certification for Teachers. She received special recognition when she took the "Principles of Learning and Teaching" examination and scored in the top 15 percent of the nation.
She said the past six years have been rewarding and fun.
"I know I am where God wants me to be," she said. "I come in contact with students every day that I know I can be an example for. If God had not wanted me to do this, things would not have gone as well as they did for me to go back and get my degree."
She teaches Algebra II, Algebra II Honors and Math Tech III - geometry for students who plan to attend technical school. She said part of her teaching method is simply to make learning fun.
"I like to establish a relationship with my students," she said. "While I am teaching we will have moments when we can stop and make a joke about something. I don't keep it strictly all 100 percent business, but I think in the process you are learning."
Discipline in the classroom is a key, she said.
"You can be the best teacher in the world but if you can't manage a classroom, you are not going to get anything accomplished," she said. "I try my best. I want them to learn. It's not about me, it's about my students. They have to learn. For some of them that is the only way they are going to get out of the situations they are in now - to get an education."
Roark and her husband have three children between them - Victoria Harris, a senior at Union County High; Tyler Roark, a sophomore; and Steven, a 2005 graduate. Roark said she had the privilege of teaching Victoria Algebra II Honors.
"I loved it, I think she loved it and all the class enjoyed it," she said. "It was just like we were one big happy family in that class. I enjoyed getting to spend more time with her and I was in on it first hand to make sure she knew what she was doing in Algebra II."
In her spare time, Roark is involved in her church, Full Gospel Tabernacle of God. She works with the youth, is Easter play director and plays saxophone and trumpet in the church band. Her husband and all three children also play in the band.
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