Teacher of the Week 12.4.20

Cody Adams introduces us to Austin Vahle, our ABC 36 Teacher of the Week

C1 3 austin vahle really likes his job.

Austin vahle: more than anything, i want them to gain appreciation for the arts.

Cody adams: brenda cowan elementary is in its second year.

Vahle was hired as the school drama teacher when it opened.

Austin vahle: i had multiple job offers two years ago, stepping out of college, some in the general education classroom teaching first, second, third grade.

And then this one popped up on the last day when i had to respond to every other person.

And i knew that it just had to be it.

So here i am.

Cody adams: vahle teaches k through five.

He says, it's not always easy, but it's always fun.

Austin vahle: yeah, sometimes it's a little crazy.

And sometimes we literally are playing creative drama and herding cats in the classroom.

Cody adams: even with virtual school right now, vahle is making sure his kids are getting the same experience they would in class, and then some.

Austin vahle: i said, i want to do something where the children get to devise the piece.

Through those zoom rehearsals, we then scheduled individual sessions where students came in and we professionally recorded and audio-engineered everything.

And then from there it was live streamed.

Cody adams: at the end of the day, vahle knows not every kid will fall in love with performing, but he hopes they take away so much more from his class.

Austin vahle: it's not about building the next broadway star, but building tolerance and figuring out that the world is way bigger than what we may think, but then also small at the same time.

And so figuring out how we can make those connections and learn about different cultures that are different from our own.

Cody adams: if you know a teacher just like mr. vahle going above and beyond, nominate them to be our abc 36 parent- teacher store teacher of the week on our website, wtvq.com.

In lexington, cody adams at abc 36 news.

Speaker 3: abc 36 teacher of the week is brought to you by