Friday, Jan. 23, 2009

Class Acts: A Q&A With Jeff Zehner

Jeff Zehner was nominated by Barry, Shana and Averi Peterson for Class Acts. The Peterson family said Zehner's passion to teach kids "is very contagious. All one needs to do is volunteer one time in class and you will be sucked in by his high energy and unequaled attention to detail."

Name: Jeff Zehner

Age: 43

City of residence: Modesto

Occupation: Fifth-grade educator

Family: Wife, Rosie; daughter, Jasmine Ann, 3; a son expected in April

Background: Attended California State University, Stanislaus

Teaching experience: 19 years with Modesto City Schools: Burbank, El Vista, Enslen

Why did you get into teaching? My dad gave me some great advice growing up. He suggested that whatever occupation I entered, make sure it was something I enjoyed doing and had a passion for. Although that passion is still there, my teaching career has been redefined over the years. Today that passion is about setting the bar seemingly out of reach, then watching students surpass it.

What is your favorite thing about being a teacher? Working with kids and channeling that energy to a goal of greatness. Also, I'm fortunate to work with an amazing staff, especially the fourth-grade teachers, Cliff Judd and Marcia McGinnis, who do an amazing job of preparing students for the fifth grade.

What is the most challenging part of your job? Getting students to perform at levels they didn't think they could attain. Also, helping students believe that it is much better to be striving for greatness than aspiring to be average.

What's next in your classroom? We have art lessons with Nancy Smith. We will be taking a field trip to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. We are also looking forward to the Phil Hennessey Memorial Fun Run in the spring.

Advice for new teachers: Don't allow yourself to complain about a low salary, the long hours, or the unglamorous life of teaching. Your net worth can't be correlated to your bank account, or stock portfolio. In the end, it becomes about how much good you have done for others. You will realize that helping others succeed is as rewarding as helping yourself succeed.

Advice for students: Have a passion, hunger, and a drive to get better at every task or lesson that crosses your desk. That is a mindset. Make sure you're trying to get better, as opposed to just trying to get by.

Advice for parents: Read Spencer Johnson's book, "The Precious Present." It can stay with you for life. In short, you simply have to focus on making the best of everything that's within your grasp. Certainly, for your children.

Future plans: I'm gaining a new perspective on life, having started a family in my 40s. I've never been one to rush to reach the future, but my wife and I are humbled to be expecting a son in April.

How do you to reach students not interested in school? It's about building a student's self-esteem. You can't expect a child to build a foundation of hard work, without developing a positive self-esteem first. The first thing I do to reach a student not interested in school is to build self-esteem through small attainable goals and celebrate that success.

What would surprise people about your job? The climate destroyer of (the federal No Child Left Behind act) has changed the chemistry of teaching. A common denominator of successful businesses is everyone subscribing to the same common goal. I think people would be surprised just how divided education has become over NCLB.

What did you do on your summer vacation? We spent most of our vacation at a family cabin in the mountains.