2 weeks Ago
MICHIGAN CENTER, MI — Like his parents before him, Brian Woodhurst has had years of experience building and maintaining positive relationships through education. Woodhurst, 46, has spent his entire 23-year career teaching for the Michigan Center School District. He began at Michigan Center Jr.
/Sr. High School, where he taught social studies, physical education and health for eight years. He now teaches gym fulltime for “Young 5s” through second grade students at Arnold Elementary.
“I’m very fortunate that at Michigan Center our mantra is, ‘Every Kid, Every Day,’” Woodhurst said. “Of course we teach the necessary skills and benchmarks, but I enjoy trying to build relationships with every student - whether we are in the gym, the hallway or playground.” Woodhurst graduated from Concord High School, and studied exercise science and social studies secondary education at Spring Arbor University.
Though Michigan Center is not his alma mater, Woodhurst was very familiar with the district before he started teaching there. His father Ken Woodhurst also taught for the district for his full career. His mother, Carol Woodhurst, was a longtime teacher for the Western School District before she became principal at Arnold Elementary.
Woodhurst spoke with MLive/Jackson Citizen Patriot about the lessons he’s learned throughout his life in education, and how he tries to impart those lessons on younger generations. Jackson Citizen Patriot: Was there a specific moment or experience that inspired you to get into the field of education? Brian Woodhurst : Both of my parents were teachers, so I saw behind the curtain of how that worked — grading papers, working on lessons and hearing about their stories of what was going on at school. They really liked their jobs, so when they were around the house they weren’t complaining about it.
When I was in high school I got to start coaching youth teams, like flag football and Saturday morning basketball camps. I really liked working with kids, and that gave me a lot more confidence that teaching was what I wanted to get into. I had wonderful teachers and coaches at every level — people who cared about me and took a deep interest in me, and I thought about trying to pay that back.
I would love to have half the impact on students that my teachers had on me. JCP: Why was teaching in the field you’re in such a calling for you? Woodhurst : I just love sports. I coached for a number of years.
Teaching and coaching are kind of the same thing. Even though I’m not a coach per se, we’re teaching all the same skills - how to kick, how to throw, how to catch, things like that. JCP: Are there any ways you’ve changed or evolved as an educator between now and when you started teaching? Woodhurst : Experience has helped.
Over 20 years, I’ve seen a lot go on. We’ve had good days and bad days - I have it stored in my head “What went bad with this particular thing? What went good?” I just try to apply the good for the current kids. Whenever I don’t have a good experience or exchange with a student or a lesson, I try to figure out what went wrong and correct it.
I’ve worked with wonderful teachers, and I take lessons from them all of the time. I keep my mind, eyes and ears open, so that has really helped. And I’d say becoming a parent has helped me.
I was able to see teaching through a different lens, and question at times the ways that I handled a student or a lesson, and think “Is that how I would want a teacher to teach my kid?” JCP: Is there a specific moment from your career that you would consider to be the most rewarding? Woodhurst : I started at the Jr./Sr. High (School), and now I’m getting those kids’ kids.
It’s fun to see former students come back down with their kids at open house and school functions, and just seeing what they’re up to and what they’re doing later in life. When I talk to their kids, I try to give them little examples of when I was their parents’ teacher, and that messes with their head. They have a hard time understanding “Whoa, he taught my dad or my mom, and me?” Also, I love when I teach and kids get better at something.
When they smile and you can see that the lightbulb went on. When I see kids having success and improving, and they see it themselves, I get a little pumped up about that. JCP: What is your favorite part of your job? Woodhurst : I’d say the kids.
I’ve been around plenty of kids of different backgrounds, different personalities. That’s been a joy, just being around different kids. At this level there’s no filter, they just say what’s on their minds.
They’re happy to be here, and it helps make you stay young. If you know a K-12 educator in Jackson County who might make a good subject for the weekly “Meet the Teacher” series, send an email with their contact information to [email protected] .
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