Kelloggsville — A fixture of the Kelloggsville community, it might surprise some to learn that when Todd Coon graduated from college, his first choice was not to return to his alma mater to teach. Instead, he was considering opportunities in northern Michigan.
“I was working (at Kelloggsville) during the summers while I was at Grand Rapids Community College. My mother was a bus driver here, and my family had all gone to Kelloggsville. So when a position opened up, they knew me, and, well, I guess I’m just going to be here forever,” he said with a laugh.
Coon, who graduated from Kelloggsville in 1985, started as a physical education and math teacher at the middle school in 1992. About 10 years later, he moved to the high school as a math teacher.
Today, he mostly works with 11th- and 12th-grade students, teaching Algebra II and pre-calculus. Many students know him as someone who can often be seen cheering students on, helping with the Rocket 11 student recognition program or hanging in the halls between classes.
Why do you teach? “I believe it was a calling since sophomore year in college when I started helping other students with their math assignments. I enjoyed helping and watching them gain understanding of the material. I took it as a challenge to help a student who clearly did not understand what was going on.”
What is your biggest motivator that keeps you excited about teaching? “Most recently it has become more challenging to stay motivated, but I still take it as a challenge to help the student to understand and become successful in math. And for those students who are less motivated I still take it upon myself to get them interested so that they can/will pass the class.”
Why math? What’s the best/most interesting thing about it?
“Math makes you think. Math makes you problem-solve. Without math, would we even have a space program? Math is up there right next to English.”
What are some of the biggest challenges in your role and how do you strive to meet them? “Technology and keeping students motivated. Helping students use technology appropriately is a struggle. AI will give you the answer but AI will not help the students understand the answer. Today’s students want answers quickly and do not want to take the time to understand the problems or the bigger picture. As for motivation, I have learned to be a teacher, an entertainer, a caregiver, a counselor, a believer and a ‘candy’ giver for motivation.”
What’s the most amazing/notable/interesting thing about your students? “All my students are unique. Every student has a story about them and where they came from. Over the years, I have seen a lot of hardships and accolades, students who have overcome huge struggles in school and in life. As a teacher sometimes your focus is always about the grade in your class and not on the student as a person. As you get to know the student, you become aware of the struggles they may have and work with them in a different light or motivate them as an individual. I try to treat each student a little differently.”
What would you say to someone considering teaching as a profession? “Despite what some might say in this day and age of education, everyone has their calling in life. Mine was definitely teaching. If I had to do it over again it would be teaching. Sure, do I have my days where ‘these kids are driving me crazy’ or ‘why are we doing this?’ The good days still outnumber the bad days, but what job is perfect every day? After 30-plus years of teaching, I will say it is still fun 95% of the time. The joy of a student that gets an ‘aha’ moment keeps me going. The enjoyment of a former student seeing you again and saying ‘I enjoyed your class’ or ‘you were the best.’
“A wealthy friend of mine that was in the fruit and vegetable shipping business once said to me, ‘Sure I made millions, but you are changing and affecting lives. I moved fruit and vegetables.’”
Read more from our Kelloggsville:
• She finds joy in guiding the youngest learners
• He found his fit teaching students about engineering
