WHY TEACHING IS MORE THAN A DAY JOB: CHRISTINE BULLOCK,

“As an educator, I firmly believe it is important to build positive relationships with my students,” Christine Bullock says. “I love greeting my students at the classroom door. It is important for my students to know that I love my job and want them to feel safe and happy in my classroom. Yes, being a teacher has its challenges but having a positive impact on a student’s life far outweighs those challenges.” Bullock has taught for 27 years and spent most of her career teaching social studies in middle school before transferring to her current role. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Ball State University and her master’s from Valparaiso University.

FAVORITE PART OF TEACHING:

Bullock enjoys being creative in her daily lessons, and teaching during a pandemic took her creativity to a higher level. “I had to find creative ways to engage my students and get them to participate in the live Google meets,” she explains. “Like so many teachers, I needed to see their smiling faces and hear their voices. I made it my mission to teach live from my classroom. I set up two iPads, a television and a projector so that the students could see and hear me move around my classroom. I would wear different hats or costumes during each lesson. I did not want the pandemic to stop my students from being involved in their own learning. I remember dressing up as King Tut during a lesson centered on ancient Egypt. Even though my students were not physically in the classroom, I wanted them to feel connected and have fun.”

Social Studies Chesterton High School, Chesterton