Why I Teach

Katelyn Dover, a former Central Oregon Teacher of the Year, shares why – despite the challenges – she continues to pour into the next generation 

What is the motivation to teach? For Katelyn Dover, the answer is multifaceted. Certainly the privilege of educating the next generation is toward the top of the list. And instilling value in children – seeing them, listening to them – is a factor.

Beyond that, Dover sees the profession as an opportunity to make an impact in her community by connecting to families she otherwise wouldn’t have the chance to interact with.

“I get to offer comfort during difficult times by promising that, regardless of what is happening outside of school hours, their children will be cared for while in class,” says Dover, a 2012 graduate of George Fox’s Master of Arts in Teaching program.

It’s a mindset that inspires her work as a first-grade teacher at John Tuck Elementary School in Redmond, Oregon, and, in 2020, factored in her being named a Regional Teacher of the Year by the Oregon Department of Education.

Following is a Q&A in which she discusses the reasons she teaches, what she loves about her job, and how the George Fox MAT program prepared her for her work.

What inspires you to teach?

Goodness, there are so many directions I could go with this answer. Honestly, my first year of teaching, I had a group of students who had come from really difficult backgrounds. During that year, I read Isaiah 61: 1-4, and it has become kind of an anthem for why I believe teaching is an incredible honor and privilege: 

"The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, 
because the Lord has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor, 
he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, 
to proclaim liberty to the captives …”

There is so much brokenness in this world, and these children I get to spend my days with are not immune to it. Before teaching, I would read a passage like this and agree with every line, “Yes, Lord, I want to see that kind of deliverance in my community, and I would love to be part of bringing that kind of freedom here, but where do I find those who need this?”

I lived a fairly sheltered life and knew the value of relationships in changing hearts, but didn’t know how to develop authentic relationships with people in such dire need. I quickly found out that caring about children is a really strong relationship builder. Teaching allows me to be an important person in the lives of families that I wouldn't normally get a chance to interact with.

I get to extend honor to them, regardless of their beliefs or lifestyle, simply because they are made in God’s image and deserve honor for that alone. I get to model kindness and caring for children and frame what it looks like to support each other and believe the best in people. 

On my best days, this is what inspires me to go to work. I have prayed over many years that the year in my classroom would be the year of the Lord's favor for these families. 

What do you love about your job?

I love the challenge of it. Some days I also hate the challenge of it, but mostly I love that there are always areas to improve and new students and groups of students to get to know. I love the lasting relationships with people in my community and getting to have younger siblings come through my classroom whom I have watched grow up.

I also love getting to know an entire cross-section of humanity and the honor of being trusted with a small part of their lives. I love the hope that children bring with them; each group has a unique flavor and reminds me that when the world looks dim, their huge hearts and rampant curiosity brings so much to look forward to in the years to come. 

What are your thoughts on winning the Teacher of the Year honor in 2020?

I find myself shaking my head thinking about it. I am so humbled by that honor. I firmly believe that teachers are some of the hardest-working and biggest-hearted people out there, and any one of my colleagues deserves it just as much or more than I do. It was a really special day and a sweet reminder that God sees the hard work we put in that we feel goes unnoticed. 

How did the George Fox MAT program equip you for your career? Are there any practical applications that you learned in the program that you are still using today?

I really appreciate the opportunities for reflection that were embedded into the program. 

I think a huge part of teaching is thinking through how to make the next lesson, or year, better, and this practice was outlined really well in the George Fox MAT program. The reflections I remember most tied our practice back to our own experiences and what strengths we could bring to the table. 

This is still something I battle regularly with teaching. It is so tricky to find my identity in Jesus and what he says about me and confidently bring my strengths to my practice (when they may look different than someone else’s). During times of reflection, I am often reminded to anchor in what God has said about who I am, then I can bring those pieces of my identity into teaching and be the best teacher I can be. 

Are there any mentors you’d like to single out as instrumental during your MAT experience?

My cooperating teacher Lisa Flora-Burgher was the best mentor I could have asked for. She saw so much potential in me and reminded me of it frequently when I felt like I didn’t know what I was doing (because I didn’t). She was passionate about learning new things and frequently asked for my opinions (when I thought I was just there to listen and learn) and showed me what it looked like to mentor someone while learning alongside them.

Out of everything, she showed me how to honor parents and families that others might look down upon. We did home visits for each of our students and the way she walked into every house finding things to genuinely connect with and complement was a master class in forging trust from the outset. I never heard her say one bad thing about a family, and she always landed on, “They’re just doing the best they know.” Her modeling of this attitude has done a lot to shape the teacher I am today.