TEACHERS
OF THE
YEAR AARON SCHULTZ
of the raps were quite
good; others were nothing
short of hilarious.

MIDDLE SCHOOL MATH,
SCIENCE, AND PE
TEACHER AT IMMANUEL
LUTHERAN SCHOOL IN
ALEXANDRIA, VA
What makes you excited
to go into your school
each day?
NOMINATED BY:
WHITNEY W.

“Mr. Schultz inspires
a genuine love
of learning in his
students as he
brings subjects to
life on a daily basis.

Each week, he
engages students in
a discussion on the
beauty of numbers.

Starting with a quote
about mathematics
or numbers, he gets
students thinking and
discussing concepts
and ideas outside of
the textbook, pushing
them to think bigger
and explore broader
mathematical concepts and ideas.

His energy and
passion for math and
science is contagious,
inspiring students and
parents alike to see
the beauty in these
subjects. Mr. Schultz
is an incredible
teacher and mentor
to his students, but
more importantly, he
is a huge community-
builder for the
school.” SPONSORED BY:
12 August 2017
I mean this with complete
sincerity—my students
bring me true joy. They
make each school day
worthwhile. I teach to
serve them. And I am
genuinely humbled to
teach in a school with
such stellar people. From
our pastor to our school’s
headmaster to the
individual teachers, each
person has a true love for
serving his neighbor.

What originally got you
interested in teaching?
I can still remember
when I was in third grade,
and my teacher, Miss
Anderson, asked me what
I wanted to be when
I grew up. “Teacher,” I
responded confi dently.

Beyond that, however, I’ve
had plenty of infl uences:
my dad was a teacher for
over twenty years before
becoming a principal and
then superintendent, and
my seventh and eighth
grade teacher (combined
class) was a true role
model of mine.

Why do you think
teachers are important?
Alongside the parents,
a teacher is responsible
for instilling virtue and
a love for learning in a
student. Teaching is more
than grading papers or
helping students to learn
an algorithm. To enter into
the vocation of teaching
is to care for and nurture
washingtonFAMILY.com Inspire
students to love
learning, and then a
student’s love for
learning will
be its own
motivation. each pupil’s intellectual,
physical and spiritual
well-being. What’s your funniest
teaching moment?
A couple of years back,
I gave my students the
assignment of creating
their own math rap song.

The students performed
these songs in class. Some
What are three things
you use in your
classroom everyday and
could never live without?
My lesson plan book
(keeps me organized and
my day structured), math
logic puzzle books (never
leave home without them),
and pistachios (my power
snack)! What advice would you
give to aspiring teachers?
Model a love for learning
and love for the subject
you instruct. That in itself
will have a profound
impact on your students.

Love and pray for your
students. Do you have any tried
and trusted ideas or
activities for motivating
students? Students are motivated
by a teacher’s passion.

If a teacher truly loves
math and loves teaching
math, students begin
to love it, too. Inspire
students to love learning,
and then a student’s love
for learning will be its
own motivation.