Bourland said the two people that influenced to become a teacher were her eighth grade coach (who inspired her to go to college) and her mother. She said her mother’s wish for her – and her siblings – was simply to finish high school. Her parents held a ninth grade education, so graduating from high school was a milestone.
She also said her mother taught her to always give a hard day’s work for a fair day’s pay, and that meant always being the best she could be in every aspect of her life.
Bourland said that in order to teach, challenge, and inspire students today, teachers must incorporate the following:
- Teach students to work with others;
- Give students the tools to succeed and believe in themselves;
- Have a curriculum that not only interests students, but also challenges their limits and makes learning relevant to their lives;
- Demand active learning where students are engaged in learning; and
- Treat your students as if they are your own children.