My guest for this episode of the Guest Friends podcast is my former 6th grade teacher at Taylor Elementary School: Tom Gerken. Tom was born in Ohio, but he spent his entire 37-year teaching career and raised his family "North of the boarder" in Livonia, Michigan. Although retired from the classroom now, Tom continues to lead an active and healthy lifestyle - including still running 2-miles every day. I'd imagine that not too many people get the chance to reconnect with one of their favorite teachers later in life - let alone interview them. So I was grateful to have the opportunity to meet up with Tom after running into him at an Al Kaline autograph signing at Comerica Park in Detroit this past Fall. Amongst other insights, Tom shares how little league baseball and his love of the Detroit Tigers influenced his teaching career; how being pink-slipped twelve of his first thirteen years in the profession was an unwelcome introduction to the political process; and how his students in the '70s got an education in the "History of Rock & Roll" as part of his early curriculum stylings.
We'd enjoy your comments or questions:
GuestFriendsPodcast@gmail.com
LINKS RELATED TO THIS EPISODE:
Logo Credit: Saint-Creative.com
Music Credit: Of Asaph (James Alleman)
RECOMMENDED RESOURCES:
Documentary: American Teacher
Book: Tribe of Mentors (by Tim Ferriss)
1999 Teacher of the Year: Andy Baumgartner
Article: Michigan K-12 Funding
1968 World Champion: Detroit Tigers
Article: The 50s - A Decade of Music That Changed the World (Rolling Stone)
Episode 17: Carl Johnson – Undercurrents of Optimism & Joy
Episode 16: Joseph Waterman – Original Owner: 1960 Chevy Impala
Episode 15: Paul Patton – Origin Story: The Experiment of Trinity House Theatre
Episode 14: Michal McIntosh - Counting Cards... One Thank You Note at a Time
Episode 13: Jason Tomlinson - Word Up to the Spoken Word
Episode 12: Justin Stilson - Old-World Artisan: Pinstriping & Antique Sign Painting
Episode 11: Anna Widgeon - Chasing Coffee
Episode 10: Jim Voigt - Letters Home From Vietnam
Episode 9: Dan & Jennifer Wells - Cousin Camp
Episode 8: Ben Davis - Running Down a Dream: Ultra Edition
Episode 7: Rob Woelkers - Adventure Plus Ambition: The Business of Skateboarding
Episode 5: Anjanetta Dorsey - Being a Foodie (with a Capital F)
Episode 4: Eva Wesman - The Great Depression and Beyond (Part 2)
Episode 3: Eva Wesman - The Great Depression and Beyond (Part 1)
Episode 2: Jason Waterman - Living la Vida Expatriate
Episode 1: Carl Johnson - Marriage, Friendships, and Doing the Work
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