When students in Bill Gunther’s Clarkston Junior High School classroom commented on dating rules set by their parents, the teacher could relate.
He didn’t keep his memories to himself.
‘I remember thinking, my friends are allowed to go out ? it didn’t seem fair,? he said.
When discussing relationships and other personal issues in his health class, he often shares his own experiences with dating, marriage, and fatherhood.
‘I think it’s important for students to see you as a real person,? Gunther said. ‘It’s interesting to them, helps connect them to what we’re talking about.?
Students showed their appreciation for his approach by voting him this year’s Golden Teacher at the junior high.
‘He’s an excellent teacher,? said Principal Shawn Ryan. ‘He really has the kids? best interests in his heart. He takes it very seriously.?
Organized by the school Student Leadership team, the award winner is determined by student vote. This year, they worked with Independence Township to bring in voting booths and ballot box.
Students voted during National Educators Appreciation week, May 5-9. The winner was announced May 9. Gunther was awarded two gift certificates, and will receive the official ‘Golden Apple? Trophy at the eighth-grade ceremony in June.
He has received employee recognition before, but the Golden Apple award is special, he said.
‘The students voted on it,? he said. ‘It was really nice. This is the highlight of my career.?
‘He deserves it,? said colleague Karen Culley, math teacher. ‘He sees the best in kids. He’s a good guy.?
‘He’s a really nice teacher,? said Krista Deo, eighth-grade student. ‘I’m never bored in class. He does a good job.?
‘He tells a lot of stories to help us make decisions,? said eighth-grader Matt Dellinger. ‘He talks about decisions he made, so we don’t make the same mistakes.?
Gunther, who grew up in Waterford, attended Western Michigan University and Eastern Michigan University, where he earned his Master’s Degree in Special Education.
He first went to school to become a medical doctor before deciding to go into education.
‘I was in pre-med,? he said. ‘I have a lot of respect for the medical profession. But I want to help prevent disease rather than treat it ? I’m in the prevention business.?
He worked as a substitute teacher in 1994 all over Clarkston Community Schools. The next year, he landed his first full-time teaching assignment with the Big Bay de Noc School District in the Upper Peninsula.
‘It was a different experience ? 280 kids in K-through-12th grade, kids had a 38-mile bus trip,? Gunther said. ‘We have more resources here. Teachers bought their own paper and other supplies.?
He was offered a teaching job in Clarkston for the 1997 school year, so he and his wife, Leslie, a graduate of Clarkston High School, moved back to the Lower Peninsula, settling in Grand Blanc.
He taught science and health classes all over the district, kindergarten through eighth grade, before settling at the Clarkston Middle School five years ago, which became Clarkston Junior High School in 2005.
He covers a wide variety of health issues, including nutrition, physiology, safety, drug abuse, relationships, and sex education.
Health curriculum has changed over the past 10 years, moving from elementary to junior high and enduring changes to state requirements, but underlying values haven’t, Gunther said.
‘We stay within the community guidelines,? he said. ‘This is a more conservative community. I tell it like it is, within boundaries.?
Goals now are to be a good father to his and his wife’s two young children, and be a good teacher, he said.
‘I’m at the point in my career where my focus can be on being good at what I’m doing where I am,? he said. ‘I have my Master’s Degree. I’m not looking at going back to school.?
His experience as a roving teacher lets him see many teaching styles and practices.
‘I picked up little things, what works, what would work for me,? he said. ‘I’m blessed to work with outstanding people.?