by Ronda Lickteig
R-T Staff Writer
When adults think back on the teachers who had the most positive impact on them, it is usually the teacher who made you think, made you laugh and made you take responsibility for yourself. As a high school senior, J.K. Bevelle is already having that impact on students.
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J.K., honored as the Trenton High School Cadet Teacher of the Year for those teaching at Rissler Elementary School, has impressed not only his cooperating teacher, Laura McDonald, but also the fourth grade students in her class. In letters of recommendation, the students were unanimous in their opinion that he helps them find the right answer (but won’t just give it to them), he lets them know when their behavior is unacceptable, he encourages them in their lessons and he is a lot of fun.
But he apparently has other qualities that individual students noticed, including his ability to wiggle his ears and speak with an Australian accent. He also has good speech habits and is careful in what he says.
“The best thing that J.K. does is talk clearly,” wrote one student, who also noted that “he does not say stupid things and if he says something it makes him look smart.”
Mrs. McDonald is equally impressed with J.K., not only because of his skills in the classroom and his ability to personally connect with his students, but also because he has shown a true interest in the teaching profession.
“I have been very impressed with J.K.’s interest in the teaching profession,” she wrote in her nomination form. “I don’t remember any other cadet asking so much about the details of the profession. J.K. likes to ask the ‘why’ and ‘how’ questions. He is interested not only in how lessons are organized, but how curriculum is written, how policies are decided and enforced and how professional development works.”
The son of Don Bevelle, J.K. said his time in the classroom has been a learning experience and has actually made him more sure of his career plans.
“This has made me want to teach even more,” he said. “It’s something I’ve really enjoyed and that probably helped me win the award.”
J.K. said he plans to attend North Central Missouri College next year and then continue his education through Graceland University’s teacher education program at NCMC.
Mrs. McDonald said it would be great to work side by side with him again in the future.
“I truly hope that I have the privilege of working with him as a fellow colleague in the future,” she said. “I know that J.K. plans to teach upper grades, but I hope he changes his mind and works in the elementary, because we could use more great teachers like him!”