By Mandy Gambrell
Five years into his teaching career, Fairwood Elementary teacher Ty Captain says the most important thing he wants his students to learn from him is kindness.
“I want to inspire my students to be kind to everyone they meet and to be different and unique from others,” Captain said. “I want them to stand out for being the kind person.”
He teaches second graders and says his motivation to become an educator was his desire to make a difference in the world. He also does it in memory of his friend Holly, who died after a car accident when they were both in college. Captain said he and Holly made plans to be teachers together.
He says he has seen a lot of amazing things in his time as a teacher.
“My first year teaching, I taught third grade, and they have to take a reading test in the spring that determines if they go on to fourth grade,” Captain said. “I had a student I had known from my summer job as a summer camp counselor, in my class, and he was a struggling reader. In the spring when we took our MAP assessment, which we could use to also promote a student, he received a score well above what he needed to be promoted.
“I can just remember my excitement and his when he saw the score and he hugged me and I said, ‘You’re going to fourth grade, buddy,’ and he teared up a little, as did I.”
Captain said that made him realize how much testing stresses out students.
“It’s what solidified that I needed to teach younger kids because I wanted to intervene sooner to help get them on track. I also love when I see the ‘tough’ kid show their kindness and heart,” Captain said.
“Last year, when I taught first grade, my class became more than just a class — they became a family. They took care of each other and helped each other, and it was truly beautiful.” He said. “We had the same kids from October all the way until about April and then two kids moved … and I had never seen so many tears from kids in my life.
“They constantly talked about the students who moved away and made cards, letters, and pictures to help remember their friends that moved. It was truly the sweetest,” Captain said.
The elementary educator, who grew up in Miamisburg, says his mom has been a big cheerleader for his career.
“She helped me realize that my true passion was teaching,” he said.
Captain said the Hamilton City Schools are definitely living up to its marketing hashtag, #BigBlueOnTheMove, and he is happy to be part of that momentum.
“I believe in teaching the whole child, not just the academic side but also the socio-emotional side,” he said. “I am also an avid believer in the Responsive Classroom approach to teaching because of its focus on building a positive community in the classroom and because it focuses developmentally responsive teaching.”