New Teacher of the Year charges up Westvale - MAKING THE GRADE

Salt Lake Tribune, The (UT)-June 10, 2005

Maybe it's the baggy jeans hanging low on his waist.

Or perhaps it is the sideways cap and the skateboarding T-shirt that might throw you off. It definitely doesn't help that his facial features resemble that of a 17-year-old.

No matter how you look at it, Bryan Boyd just doesn't look like a second-grade schoolteacher.

But it's true, Boyd is nearing the end of his first year of teaching second grade at Westvale Elementary School in West Jordan.

So, how did a guy who looks like a character on the MTV show "Viva La Bam" become a teacher?

"I have always loved being around kids" says Boyd, 24. "I want to be someone they can look up to and someone they can learn from. If I can have a positive impact in children's lives, then that would mean the world to me."

For Boyd to pursue a career in education is not that far-fetched, considering both his parents worked in education. His father, Emerson, has 30 years of experience in education including being principal of West Jordan High School from 1994 to 2002. His mother, Connie, worked as a secretary at Bonneville Junior High School as well as a librarian at Howard R. Diggs Elementary School.

Regardless of the family legacy, Boyd went into Westminster wanting to become a child psychologist. After a few semesters, Boyd concluded that psychology wasn't for him. But he still wanted to work with kids. Unsure of what to do next, Boyd's mother suggested that he look into teaching.

"At first I didn't like the idea," said Boyd. "But the more I thought about it and the more I looked into it, the more it intrigued me."

Boyd started to do research. He went back to his elementary school and asked his third-grade teacher, Elizabeth Hamilton, if he could help out in her fourth-grade class. After a few trips to her classroom, he immediately knew that teaching was his calling.

He switched his major to education and got a job at a day care center in order to understand kids better. He held onto that job for the next three years until doing his student teaching at North Star Elementary School last spring.

After his graduation in May 2004, Boyd joined Westvale Elementary. It didn't take long for his unique presence to be felt.

"Mr. Boyd is a breath of fresh air," says Westvale Principal Katherine Riding with a smile. "He's fun and he's got a great personality. He mixes in well with the kids. He even eats lunch with the kids!"

Spend 10 minutes in Boyd's classroom and you'll immediately see the effect he has with children. Whether it is teaching the kids grammar or singing songs, Boyd always manages to get his point across.

Riding also points out Boyd has the ability to interact well with faculty and parents. It is that sort of openness that Riding says she admires about him.

Last week, Boyd's hard work was recognized when he was named the Jordan District New Teacher of the Year.

"It's been a lot of fun so far," says Boyd, "there's not a day goes by where I don't think I have the best job in the world. Kids are the funniest people in the world."

While his first year has been undoubtedly a success, that does not mean that the transition has been easy. It is not unusual for Boyd to put in 12 hour days (not including the paperwork he does at home) and spend the majority of his Saturdays and Sundays in his classroom preparing for the week.

It's a tough commitment for anybody who just came out of college, especially with the not-so-lucrative salary that comes with being a new teacher. A first-year teacher in the Jordan District earns around $25,000 annually.

"Of course it is difficult. I'm not going to lie," Boyd says, "I'm getting by OK so far. But what if I want to have a family?"

Statistics show that only 13 percent of all elementary schoolteachers are male. And the majority of those are teaching grades 4 through 6. But Riding strongly believes that male elementary schoolteachers have chance to be role models.

"I think it is really important to society to see education being promoted by our males," says Riding, "we don't have a lot of those in our schools. But when we do get teachers like Mr. Boyd, we really admire them. They touch a lot of kids' lives."

Riding has evidence. She points out that her fourth-grade teacher, "Mr. Sing," was one of the most influential teachers she ever had.

Today, it is not out of the ordinary for children to come from single-parent homes. And the majority of the time, those children are raised by their mothers.

Boyd realizes that in those situations he has the opportunity to be a positive male role model and to fill the void left by the father's absence.

Despite the struggles that come with being a teacher, Boyd insists he is happy where he is. He dreams of one day teaching in the inner-city of Los Angeles or New York, because he wants to help reach children who are forced to grow up in some of the nation's toughest communities.

That's a huge challenge for anyone. But then, Boyd is far from ordinary.

       
Edition: Final
Section: Jordans
Page: M4
Column: New Teacher of the Year charges up Westvale