Known for her positivity flowing through the halls of Bellefonte High, teacher Mrs. Myken Poorman is always living life to the fullest. One of Bellefonte High’s most beloved teachers, Poorman’s teaching style and attitude will make you remember her classes in the years to come.
Poorman teaches many classes, including Agriculture and Landscaping. She offers so many fun opportunities for all grade levels. One thing she is known for is bringing many animals into the classroom for her classes to make the classes more enjoyable and sentimental.
“In my 17 years here, I’ve brought in many animals…goats, cows, mini horses, donkeys, dogs, cats, a skunk, hawks…even a camel. It’s fun to get students around animals they might not normally see. If I had to choose a favorite, though, I really like bringing in different breeds of dogs that aren’t as common as pets in this area, so students can see them in person and learn what it takes to care for unique breeds.” Poorman said.
Another thing Poorman is involved with is running the Future Farmers of America (FFA) club. It focuses on the hard work being done by the next generation of farmers on farms all across the country.
As stated before, Mrs. Poorman has been teaching at Bellefonte High for an incredible 17 years. Not many teachers stay at their schools for even one year, but she has managed to be here for this long.
“I truly love my job. I believe what I teach is important, and my goal is to educate others on the importance of agriculture, even if they’re not planning on working in the agricultural industry. I really like this district, and it’s close to home. The administration and community here is also very supportive of the Agriculture Program, which is awesome,” said Poorman
Poorman always puts 110 percent into everything she does, and it stands out very clearly. She teaches a wide range of classes, not just for grade levels, but also for completely different subjects as well. So to say she loves what she does may be an understatement; it truly shows that this is her passion and life in the classroom.
“It’s real world learning! The connections we make to things that are happening now in the world make it fun. I also do a lot of projects and allow students to show me what they’ve learned through their creative choices. I think a lot more learning takes place when students have the opportunity to show what they’ve learned through a project versus just memorizing something and regurgitating it for a test…although, that’s necessary sometimes too.”
Poorman is a perfect example of “Smile anyway” because it doesn’t cost anything to be positive, kind, and to have a smile on your face. And that is what she is all about.