TEACHERS
OF THE
YEAR JASON OILER
MIDDLE SCHOOL
READING AND LAN-
GUAGE ARTS TEACHER
AT HOLY FAMILY
CATHOLIC SCHOOL IN
DALE CITY, VA
hit their fi rst serve over the
net during competition
and the whole team
celebrates like they just
won the Olympics; that
makes me laugh and
smile. Or, when young
basketball players rip
down a defensive rebound
but then shoot and score
for the other team, which
inevitably happens every
season; I can’t help but
laugh. NOMINATED BY:
GLORIA D.

“Mr. Oiler not only
teaches language
arts, but he also
coaches the school’s
basketball and
volleyball teams.

He offers great
encouragement to
his students and is
very patient and kind.

Everyone loves him.

Mr. Oiler is very
well respected by
his students and
peers. He is selfl ess,
and gives much of
his personal time
and energy to his
students.” SPONSORED BY:
22 August 2017
What is the single best
piece of advice you can
give parents of middle
schoolers? Love your children
unconditionally and be
merciful. What originally got you
interested in teaching?
My mom is one of nine
children and therefore,
I had a lot of cousins
growing up. Despite being
one of the oldest cousins, I
still had to sit at the kiddie
table during Thanksgiving
and Christmas dinners.

I was counted on to
organize games for all of
us to play day-after-day,
and had no choice but
to develop the necessary
patience to deal with
any craziness that might
ensue. Most importantly, I
learned how to listen and
respect people through
these experiences with my
cousins and my siblings.

And I also came to realize
that I have a gift for
working with children and
making sure they feel like
they belong and serve a
purpose in this world.

So, I thank my cousins
and siblings for showing
me my purpose in life, and
getting me
washingtonFAMILY.com interested in teaching.

Why do you think
teachers are important?
As a Catholic school
teacher, my number one
responsibility is preparing
my students for Heaven
and sainthood. Forming
souls, developing moral
character and cultivating
good citizens are the most
important aspects of my
job. Motivating students
to achieve academically
and striving to equip them
with the skills necessary
to succeed in the 21st
century job market is
also a crucial aspect of
teaching. But there isn’t
a treasure on Earth that
even comes remotely close
to the treasure that awaits
us in Heaven.

What’s your funniest
teaching moment?
I think my funniest
moments come from
coaching basketball and
volleyball. When JV players
What makes you excited
to go into your school
each day?
Knowing there will be
someone who needs to
be lifted up and hoping I
can be the one to do the
lifting. What advice would you
give to aspiring teachers?
Be vulnerable and
authentic. It’s OK if you
don’t have the answers
to every question or if the
lesson plan you thought
was amazing fell fl at on its
face. Your students won’t
remember that failed
lesson plan, but they will
always remember how
you made them feel about
themselves and their
potential. The old adage
that “students won’t care
how much you know until
they know how much you
care” is true. So, seek value
in your students, show
them that they matter to
you and be there for them
when they need you.