Interview: “Why I Married a Teacher…”

Interview with Adam Mark Bridgers, Husband of an Elementary School Teacher

 

I was recently working on a project where I had to be very reflective. Part of that process was to reach out to others to find out their opinion of my skill set and attribute descriptors. [See original post here.] That got me thinking about what the person who has to deal with me on a daily basis thinks about me and my crazy life as a teacher- my husband, Adam.

He has achieved much success in the challenging political arena as well as the intricate world of law. However, his greatest accomplishment is surviving being married to a teacher! It requires patience, understanding, support, and humor. Luckily, this guy has it all! And because he has it all, I am able to be better at my job educating our future leaders. Thank God for this man!

Below is an interview I conducted with Adam to find out his perspective on being married to a me, a teacher.

(bold – Gretchen’s questions / Italics– Adam’s answers)

 

1. When you hear the professional title ‘teacher,’ what comes to mind?

Societal foundation; Overworked and underpaid

 

 

2. Why do you think individuals want to become teachers?

Because they enjoy seeing people/kids grow

 

 

3. Why do you think your wife chose teaching as her career?

To help make a change and have an impact

 

 

4. Do you remember a particular teacher in your schooling career that stands out as your favorite? Why?

Dr. Combs- She gave me the opportunity to understand and see the world 

 

 

5. What do you think teachers contribute to students besides the content they teach? Why?

Moral foundation- because I believe a lot of kids in public education don’t get it at home; the opportunity to see or have someone impart on them what is right and what is wrong 

 

 

6. What did you learn about teaching that you didn’t know prior to being married to a teacher?

That you work a lot more than 7-3.

[My dad was a high school principal.] I understood what it was about, why people do it. You have to sit there and scratch your head- why in the world would someone be a teacher? The money isn’t great. The hours aren’t the best. You pour everything into kids that aren’t your own. Some of them give you joy; a lot are disappointing. You live with a lot of struggles that aren’t your own doing.  I have lived it; I grew up with it. My dad invested a lot of himself into the students. [So, being married to a teacher,] I knew what to expect. I didn’t walk into it blindly. 

 

 

7. How can husbands of teachers better support their wives?

Have high paying jobs – just kidding.  Be supportive and understanding of the emotional toll that teaching sometimes takes 

 

 

8. What advice would you share with new or aspiring teachers?

Don’t give up, we need you 

 

 

9. Why did you marry a teacher?

Because her work ethic inspires me. I believe in what it means to be a teacher. I believe in the mission. If I had enough money, I would do it myself. Or if my wife, the teacher, didn’t require money- haha

 

 

10. What is life like being married to a teacher? 

Full of interesting stories. A lot of lists and unsolicited instructions.

 

 

10a. What is life REALLY like being married to a teacher?

Sacrifice- I think when you are married to a teacher you have got to know you are part of the sacrifice too. In most teachers’ minds, the kids come first. A lot of the emotion gets poured into them and you have to be able to understand that your spouse mentally, physically, financially, emotionally pours into the school, and you should be there to support them- its not just them doing it, its a partnership.

 

 

Bonus Question:

Any other comments? 

Teaching in my opinion is a noble profession. It’s not about the money. It comes with hard work, blood, sweat and tears. Persevere – don’t give up.

 

 

My reflection of the interview with my husband:

• He understands the passion driving a teacher’s motor
• Outsiders realize the commitment involved in being a great teacher- and not just time and money
• Teachers need to reach beyond the lesson plan and show kids the world. Technology today allows for virtual field trips to bring learning to life. If his teacher exposed him to a world beyond the classroom, and he still remembers her to this day…well then, we all better start incorporating that opportunity into our classroom practices.
• Having money would definitely make ends meet a whole lot easier, but the fire in my heart would be out. So thank goodness, he is able to be my financial foundation.
• Teaching definitely has its interesting stories- many make us teachers laugh years later, especially the ones that weren’t so funny in the moment.
• A list is absolutely necessary for a teacher. So many moving parts and paperwork items due that its not only a life skill, but a survival skill. (He HATES my lists!)

 

What I learned about what he learned:

• Growing up in an educator’s home helped mold him into tolerating my life as a teacher. I am thankful his eyes were exposed to the educator’s life and he still wanted to have a teacher as his closest counsel- swoon!
• Unsolicited instructions have to be my favorite answer. He’s right. Sometimes, I can’t turn the teacher off. I’m assigning myself homework – Leave your teacher voice at work. Those of you who are teachers know this is most likely impossible, but I am willing to give it a try. After all, that’s what we ask of our kids, right?
• After all that he saw his dad give to his high school and after all that he saw his wife give to her elementary classroom, he still encourages teachers to enter the work force with excitement. Wow… he really values the work a teacher can do even after being personally affected (whether it be positively or negatively). We must be on quite a high pedestal that no negative part of the job can make him think any less of us!

 

Thank you to all the teachers out there, but more importantly, thank you for teacher spouses and family members who stand by us while we do what needs to be done to help kids reach their potential. We need more of you special people in this world!

 

Take a moment and thank a teacher spouse or family member for all that they sacrifice so a teacher can make a bigger impact in and around their community.