Reflecting on Teaching Experiences
Welcome, welcome, welcome to the Drug Prevention Power Hour. Now, it this podcast is hosted by Jake White, but in case you missed it, I’m not Jake. I’m Reggie McDonald. Think of me as Jake’s younger, cooler, funnier replacement for this episode. Now that we have that squared away, I’d like to introduce you to two women who aren’t necessarily in the prevention field, but have impacted and changed countless lives, including mine, through their work and education. With no further ado, I’d like to welcome Laura Pullman and Dawn Murphy to the Drug Prevention Power Hour.
Hello! How are we today? Great to see you. Thank you for having us. Absolutely. So for anyone who hasn’t picked up on it yet, these two were actually my teachers back in high school. I had Ms. Pullman for history and government as well as my advisory class. So she got to know me for a long time. Yeah. And she was my volleyball coach. So I got to spend a lot of time with her, which is a good thing. It’s a good thing. And then I had Mrs. Murphy, for some higher level English classes, taught me how to write a paper and I didn’t have coaching to understand in the moment how big that would be, but I write a lot of papers now. So, good. Thanks for that. I guess it wasn’t fun at the moment, but I appreciate it now. That’s for sure.
We’ve actually been using one of your examples for our Tuesdays with Maury unit. Maybe I have told you that up front, but it does say in my syllabus that’s allowed that makes me so happy. My goal in life is to be an example for one of your papers. And wow. I literally had Tuesdays with Maury with me because I’ve reread it so many times.
I’m so glad to hear that everybody should. Are you listening audience? Everybody should read Tuesdays with Maury. Yes, it’s so good. I love that book to pieces. So I guess I’ve already kind of said what you guys do, but tell me a little about yourselves, what you do for work, but also what you’re interested in, any hobbies you might have, things maybe I don’t know since I only had you as teachers.
Well, interests go with age. The only consistent that I have is the social studies, the politics and the history. I can’t go anywhere without looking at history. Or with Dawn, we know we’re going to go to like a museum or she’ll just jump out of a car to read us a road sign for It has happened. It was mostly not moving, but yes.There were cars going around us. We did block traffic. you know, a lot of my interests involved being on a farm. I loved horses and moving cattle. now, you know, my age doesn’t allow that. So I’ve drifted off into riding with Dawn.
Yeah, we, she’s also been teaching for 45 years and is retiring this year and that might be worth mentioning. And well, well earned. We did just publish a book in December of local history of our community and people have been so supportive. We’ve almost broken even just in that that amount of time. And we’ve had a lot of very supportive comments with that. So I think you can often find us climbing through dusty buildings or, you know, trying to research and figure out why is this in this location and not here? Who was involved? What were those people’s stories? And so that’s actually, I mean, I would say that’s one of our extracurriculars. Yeah, and we really, really enjoy that a so to speak. No, that’s so cool. I don’t know why I don’t have a copy of the book yet. I guess I will. will. And I’ll get my first one too. Okay, so you mentioned that you’ve been teaching for 45 years now. How long have you been teaching, Ms. Murphy? Okay. Okay. So how did you guys first decide you wanted to go into that?
The Calling to Teach
It was never to be a calling in my life. was like most students, I tried to limit how much in debt I was going to be. And the overall goal was to eventually get a CPA. So when I went to college, I decided, well, let’s get something and then I can earn money and then go back to school. And my love was history and I knew it. So I went that direction. And then it was actually the first day of teaching.
I went back to my apartment and I just said, know what God is asking you to do and dang, I did not want this. I did not, but it was a calling. And as you’re gonna find out, sometimes you gotta answer those callings. Yeah, mean, somewhat similar. I did not go to college planning to teach. I went pre-law initially and it was a double major of English and history with a minor in business with, wow, that left pretty quickly. I think I had always loved the idea of teaching, but I just felt like I needed to be able to support myself better than that.
And eventually I knew that even if I went law, I’d end up working with like juveniles because I just love teenagers and I’m fascinated by teenagers. I was fascinated when I was a teenager, like why do we do the things that we do? And I just, yeah, I mean, it does, it becomes a calling and a pull on your heart, I think. And you finally are just like, right, I give up. Like this is what I’m supposed to do with my life. So I think very, very similar stories.
Alright, I mean, I appreciate that you say that you didn’t want to go into it initially, that it was just kind of that calling, you know? And you both mentioned you just kind of can’t run away from it at that point. So, even if you didn’t necessarily set out to become a teacher, as many of us can agree, teaching’s very underappreciated profession, I would say. And as someone who was in both of your classes and saw how it was far from easy at times, when things get tough, you can’t. You can’t. What drives you to continue? I’ve got a lot of memories of moments where it definitely wasn’t easy for you guys.
Challenges and Rewards of Teaching
No, it’s, but you can’t remember we’re dealing with teenagers and part of being a teenager is making mistakes and to explore and in in so doing you have to discuss ideas and share and there are ideas that everybody has that I go, mm, boy, I don’t agree with those, but they got to in social studies, especially we’ve got to allow people to discuss and express themselves that’s the beauty of the humanities is that it’s not like, here’s the right answer. And you have one correct answer. And that’s it, you know, and that’s really the place some people want to be, we want to be able to talk things through and have, you know, those, see students use those critical thinking skills. And it is hard teaching is hard. And anybody who tells you differently is trying to sell you something. I mean, it is but also like,
I don’t think I’m the kind of person who could just have a job. Like my job is part of my identity, right? I’m Mrs. Murphy and that’s who I am. Like I have to have a job that expects a lot of me. And I think too, you’re always thinking about like my driving force and everything I do, especially with juniors and seniors is how can they be as empowered and prepared as possible for the next step?
So even though you might have days where it’s not, things are not smooth and it’s really hard, like I’m always thinking of this is going to help prepare for the next step. And so you see that bigger picture and that’s kind of what keeps you coming back, I think.
When you work with people, especially in the field of education, when students start understanding a light bulb comes on, I mean, it’s difficult to say or understand, but when you’re a teacher, their eyes light up. And yours used to do that. Yeah. That’s when I knew she’s got it. She’s got it. She just started to think differently.
I remember those moments. remember that, I remember the day that you decided you were just going to come after me during current events. I had, I had practice the night before and you were like, I’m going after you tomorrow in class. At least she let you know. And you went through everybody else and then you turned to me at the end and you were like you ready I was so scared. I’m still scared. I think I would still be scared if that happened today.
We didn’t want to inflict trauma. Well, maybe. Maybe she did. I don’t think I have any trauma from Mrs. Murphy. I have a lot of like little quotes that you would just spew out of nowhere and think it meant nothing and I just held on. I used to write them down in my notes app. Like that I’d leave class and write them down and I was like she just thinks this is so casual but like I’m gonna hold on to that so. Good. That does my heart good to hear that.
So I traumatized you and she gave you messages. That’s where. Yeah, you guys mesh together very well. Very well. There were times that you didn’t traumatize me. So that’s good. We can build on that but you definitely have the fear factor going for you for a little bit. She is a legend. I don’t even know how to describe Ms. Pullman to people. then someone from Clay Center hears me and they’re like, yeah, I know what you’re talking about.
If you only knew, I was saying things I didn’t even believe just to get you to it would annoy me so much you know, because you would say the craziest things that I knew you didn’t actually believe, just to make me upset. Mm-hmm. Because you’re to run into that in life. And then we’d, yeah, someone would be like, do you think she actually thinks that? No, she doesn’t think that. She just wants me to argue with her. She was very engaged. Sorry, that just like awoke another level of bones I need to pick with people.
Traits of Successful Students
Okay, so both of you have been teaching for quite a bit and you’ve seen many students cycle through throughout the years, are there any observable traits you’ve recognized in your most successful students as in like what sets them apart from everyone else? Do you feel like you can kind of tell?
It depends what success is. In our area, sometimes students just coming to school, that’s a success. There’s a lot of hardships out there. But one of the items is being responsible, being respectful, and being organized are some main ones. And eventually we’ll work with you on the judgment and communication pieces and we can help with that.
Yeah, and I would say being curious. think curiosity and empathy are kind of overlooked because curiosity to me is an antidote to like rigid thinking. Yeah, and you can be 18 or, you know, 80 and have rigid thinking. rather than, you know, I’m going to pull from Ted Lasso here, which I love that show but he always, there’s that famous scene where he just says, you know, you can be judgmental or you could just be curious and wondered why something’s going on. And that feeds into that whole critical thinking piece too. so I think, I think curiosity and empathy and, know, I think resilience and open mindedness. mean, you know, I mean, it’s trite to say you fall down. 39 times and get up 40, but that’s kind of true. Everything’s not always going to work out. And then you have to decide like, that going to make me bitter forever? And, am I going to say, all right, I need to learn some stuff from that and I’m going to keep going. sometimes you just need to be the person who shows up.
There’s a lot to be said for the people who just show up and keep trying. Okay, if you guys don’t have a story for this, that’s totally fine. But do you have any personal examples of like falling 39 times and getting up 40 or anything to go along with that?
Oh my, the one that comes to mind right away, you know, the home life wasn’t very good. And this was years ago before everything was put on computers. And this young man, he shouldn’t have passed my class, but I took him out of the classroom and I said life hadn’t been fair to him. then, but I thought he needed a break. So I passed him.
And I said, you do good to others. And he turned out to be an officer of the law. So there’s other ones. The kids didn’t have food. mean, there’s crazy things that we deal with. we just help them. Sometimes grades aren’t everything. And we just help them along the way. And this particular young man, he also went into law enforcement. And once the teachers found out they didn’t have food, my goodness, we were taking food. Teachers were bringing us things for him, buying him shoes. mom, it’s just incredible what people, the heart that people have sometimes.
Yeah, and I think we’ve both come out of not perfect families. so, and neither of us came out of wealth. Even slightly. And so we really have a heart, I think for those students who are up against it, you know, from a socioeconomic status or don’t have that home support. And they are always pretty close to our, our hearts. I would say. And so I think even we, you know, personally just we’ve overcome some things to be here and sit here and, you know, give out the tidbits. Some of those tidbits have been hard earned in our own lives. It’s resiliency like you said and sometimes you fail, you gotta stand up, start again.
Personal Stories of Resilience
I think even little things like I was just talking to students the other day and we were talking about anxiety and, and, know, kind of how to deal with that. And I said, you know, when I was in high school, I just had a pretty dysfunctional home. And I think there were some pieces there, like I memorized license plates. I compulsively counted stairs in my own home and in my school. just, couldn’t walk the stairs without counting.
And all of that, you over time, you start to see that as I was just a very high functioning person with anxiety. And so I was able to tell students, you know, here are some things that I did. And I could tell that, I mean, my guess would be they are also people who struggle with that. It was in my advisory. And it’s just, that’s, that’s just a sideways conversation that you have with people, you know, that you don’t plan. And I think I could see them both go.
Okay, like she turned out reasonably well. Maybe I will too, you know? And maybe I’m not weird for feeling the way I feel, you know? And I think anytime that we can share those kinds of things, there’s the curriculum and then there’s everything else too. And I think those conversations sometimes are just as important.
I think that it speaks volumes about who you are as a teacher and the relationship you have with students that you’re able to have those sideways conversations, you know that they feel comfortable enough like talking about those things where as Years ago, we wouldn’t even mention anxiety Yeah or anything of the sort like there was just a stigma around it and the fact that you’re able to have that conversation and kind of see that like light bulb moment again of She turned out reasonably well notice the saying about you, not me.
No, just the fact that those conversations are being held I would agree that in a way that’s just as important, you know looking back at high school That’s what I took away is those Conversations and the current events in history. I’m probably not gonna recall a lot of this stuff that was on the test but ⁓ I do remember all of those current events topics and I still look at the news because I Maybe I’m traumatized from needing to know the news every morning
Besides the point, I just think it speaks volumes about who you are as teachers that students feel comfortable having those conversations and leaning on you and seeing that resilience piece. Moving forward, how have… Sorry. Have you had any students that stay in touch, less use you as a resource after graduation or how has that worked out for you or for them perhaps?
Thank you. Yeah, I mean, we were talking about this when we were brainstorming before we came online with you today, but we and I know I have friends who teach in Kansas City in places and they certainly keep contact with students too. for us, we can’t go anywhere in Clay County without running into former students. I mean, we were brainstorming at our local yoga place today and drinking coffee and stuff that’s owned by one of our former students. And so I think, yes, students do still see us as resources. One of my proudest moments is I had a student who got pregnant when she was a junior. This has been several years ago now. And she and her sisters have just, they were up against it, her sisters and brothers.
And she got pregnant as a junior and I just begged her, please do not drop out. Please, please, please don’t. And she did. I mean, she just felt like that’s what she needed to do. She was really sick, had horrible morning sickness and just couldn’t see beyond this moment, which is totally understandable. And years later, she contacted me. so, we talk a lot about the negatives of social media, but there are positives as well. And she reached out to me in a message on Facebook and had said, hey, I’m gonna go back and get my GED actually, she was going go back and get her diploma. And I said, I think that’s so smart.
And she said, Would you help me with the English part? We know is then taking these classes, finishing up and I said, Absolutely. And so she would just send me and say, I don’t know what this grammar is, you got to me, you know, and she graduated, you know, years later, and she’s a great mom. She’s a great daughter and sister, she and her family have done amazing things to break cycles in their family. And you just think, man, I get to be just a tiny, tiny part of that and see that. And there’s just nothing like it. That’s our high, right? To see our students go out and conquer and give back to their communities and their families. And that’s the high, man. We’re living the dream. I mean, we were laughing about that earlier and it’s not everybody’s dream.
And it shouldn’t be, but it is our dream and we’re living it. And that’s cool. Really, really cool to be able to say that. I actually just got a text from a student who’s like, Hey, I’m going on a mission trip. can I talk to you about that? And maybe talk to you about some support and stuff. And we’ll end up talking about that. Yeah. I mean, like literally a text just came in and I need to silence my phone, but, you know, They keep coming back around. You never know. Have you had any examples of that?
The Impact of Educators on Students’ Lives
Well, Don had to remind me of one. It was over the holiday, winter holiday break, a former student contacted me and he’s writing a book about history of one of our smaller towns. And he wanted me to kind of go through it and everything. It was very well done, very well organized. We just sat for hours eating a hamburger and just talking history. And it was, he was a student who, you know, wasn’t a scholar, but yet he found a love of history. And it was just wonderful to spend the night with him and hear his successes and what he was doing the next go-round. Otherwise, just yesterday, I was in a town 90 miles from here, in a Walmart, no less. all of a sudden I heard, Miss Pullman. And I’m going, my gosh, he knows me up here. And it was a former student. And he’s going, what are you doing here? And I said, well, this is actually where I’m from. And he goes, really? And I said, remember, I always told you, I was never gonna tell you about myself. You had to figure it out. I said, you now know where I’m from. And he goes, wow. And I said, well, what are you doing here? And he goes, picking up my girlfriend. I said, well, I don’t need to know anymore from that.
Our experiences are different. I don’t do so much social media. I never found the time for it. You’re a lot harder to track down. You’re right. On purpose. I know, I wish you a happy birthday. I remembered everybody found out about that. How did you find out.
I saw you at El Porto celebrating. Was I silver? that’s right. wasn’t this year, it was a year ago. I was blaming people for putting it on social media. It’s my day. Leave me alone. Wrote it down so that I could email you. We helped set some smart people out into the world. They know how to investigate.
Now my house is decorated all the time. don’t know why. It’s a form of love. I did have your house pointed out to me by someone one time. Yeah, everybody now knows where I live mean, there’s not many options in clay, but It’s true. You can at least pick up the weeds or something.
I’ve never done anything. I’ve seen you on your walks though. Have you gotten sprayed by any skunks this year You know what? No, I haven’t even seen one, but the raccoons are pooping in my backyard. You’re gonna, I don’t know what’s gonna happen to him. Especially now that she’s retiring, she’ll have time to really…
Maybe a squirt gun, we may end it. I’m proud of those weeds. You don’t need students to those. Maybe you take up gardening. I don’t have any room in the back for that on purpose. Got flowers, shrubs all over the place. They have been decorated by numerous people, former students and its neighbors and neighbors. Yes, my neighbors. That’s okay. It’s fun. And I get revenge.
Yeah. Many of our listeners are in middle or high school and work diligently to help others and they try to make positive changes in their community. And I would just like to know, and I’m sure some of them would as well, from your experience, what advice would you give to a current high school student? It could be directly related to leadership or success, but more so it could just be general advice for life.
Yeah, I would say work a plan and be open to change. I think that one of the things I see talking to seniors during office hours visits and things like that is that they feel like they feel so much pressure to have the whole rest of their lives planned out. And it’s hard to tell someone who’s 17 or 18. Yeah, but a lot of things are going to change. You know, so I would just say work a plan and be open to changes, you know, because I think change really is the constant in life. Especially with technology. I mean, that’s gonna change your life quicker than anything. And you’ve got to stay up with it, but not be overwhelmed by it.
You almost have to put up borders as to, this is what I want to use. This I don’t see as practical for me and go from there. It’s not going to be easy, but it’s going to happen throughout your entire life. And as long as you’re staying updated with it, you should be okay. And for some, that might mean going to the public library and working with technology if you don’t have the money for it. It’s just, you gotta be there.
Influential Figures in Our Lives
Mm-hmm. All right. Well, I have thoroughly enjoyed this conversation and having you guys on with me. So one last thing before we wrap up today’s episode. If you had to pick one person who’s really influenced and inspired you in life, who would it be and why? I do this segment every episode. It’s just meant to spread some positivity, gratitude. So do you have a person that comes to mind? Mine is Don Murphy. I figured you’d say that beat that one.
Well, I would to give credit where credit is due. I would absolutely say Laura Pullman is one of my influential people. And I’m not just saying that to give back. I am a better teacher and human because of her because I hang out with her. I mean, you talk about advice like surround yourself with good people. That is huge. Huge.
I would not be tromping through buildings on a Saturday morning, Dusty rolling out on a street and clay center, having, you know, all of those experiences without her. I mean, we just, I’m incredibly, incredibly thankful for our friendship. I would also say my grandmother was a huge influence in my life and she just poured into people. She did not have, you know, I think she had finished high school.
And she just, you never left her house empty handed. Like it could be a quart jar of soup or it could just be that she had poured into you and made you believe that you could do anything. You could go out and whip the world because she just believed in you. And she was always standing somewhere just smiling at you like you were the best thing since sliced bread. And we need people like that in our lives who are just standing over there going. You are so awesome and you are rocking it right now. And she was that person for me.
I think I tell teenagers, people you idolize or you want to be like are not national figures. There’s somebody close to you. It could be a parent, a grandparent, it could be a teacher, it can be a coach. Find what there is about them that you really are attracted to. That’s what you go for. are your role models. And the people who are the best role models are the ones who know you. Yeah. Well, that was something. I just want to say thank you guys for everything that you do, not only for me, but for every student that’s gone through Clay Center. It’s just impacted so many. Normally I ask if you want to share a social media handle, but maybe you want to share your book title. I’m the Cazade, Clay Center’s fifth in Lincoln. And we are on the socials, Instagram and Facebook, Clay County interpreters. It’s like putting together interpreter and entrepreneur, so.
Got it. Behind the facade. Perfect. Well, I would just like to thank everyone listening for their work, doing life-saving work in their communities. And if you enjoy this episode, please share it with a friend or someone who would benefit. We’ll see you next week for another episode of the Drug Prevention Power Hour. Thank you for listening and thank you guys for being a part of it.
