A passion for teaching
story by Adam Wolffbrandt
“Mrs. Dr. Prof. Gunter” is scribbled on a poster of Johnny Depp in the Daviess County High School English classroom.
“Mrs. Gunter is the best teacher ever!” is written on a yoga ball across the room.
Senior pictures of students from years past are taped to the wall in a cluster right next to a framed Doctorate of Education certificate.
At first glance, Angela Gunter’s classroom seems disorganized, but with a closer look, it’s a shrine dedicated to students she loves — and who love her back.
Angela is the only teacher at the school with a Ph.D. She has chosen to continue teaching high school because she can form closer relationships with students there than she could at the college level.
“I get thanked every day for what I do,” she says. “I feel like I’m cheating the taxpayers. I would do this job for free.”
Angela was recently named a semi-finalist for the 2013 Kentucky Teacher of the Year Award. She has been teaching at Daviess County High for 11 years.
“She is definitely my favorite teacher,” says junior Caitlin Adams. “Everything we do in her class is interesting. She never gets mad, which is pretty awesome, because we do a lot of stuff in that class that we probably shouldn’t.”
Angela says she teaches with a more conversational approach to help her students.
“During our tests, you can literally hear her in your head getting excited about what we were talking about,” junior Hannah Goldman says. “Once you see it on the paper, you’re just like ‘Mrs. Gunter!’ and you just know the answer. It makes it a lot less boring.”
Junior Olivia Conder says she can tell Mrs. Gunter is passionate about what she does.
“They’ll do anything for you if they perceive you’re genuine and have their best interests at heart,” Angela says.
Angela Gunter circles her classroom as she reviews a vocabulary quiz for the day. Personalized ceiling tiles from former students hang above the class. "During our tests, you can literally hear her in your head getting excited about what we were talking about," junior Hannah Goldman says. "Once you see it on the paper, you're just like 'Mrs. Gunter!' and you just know the answer. It makes it a lot less boring."
A poster of actor Johnny Depp playing the piano hangs in Angela Gunter's classroom at Daviess County High School. Angela jokes with her students that Depp is her boyfriend, and she's still hoping he will return to his hometown and visit her classroom.
Daviess County High School junior, BreeAnn Burgess, talks with her AP English teacher, Angela Gunter, about the Governor's Scholars Program application process. Many of Angela's students ask her for reccommendation letters and other help with college applications. She says she knows how important that is for the kids, so she makes sure to personalize each one.
Senior photos of past students cover the wall by Angela Gunter's classroom desk. "I get thanked for my job every day," Angela says. "It's so fulfilling." Angela earned her Ph.D., but continues to teach at Daviess County High School. She is the only doctorate-ranked teacher at the high school, and one of only few in the county.
Angela Gunter laughs with other English teachers during their lunch break at Daviess County High School. The group eats lunch together every day and shares anectodes about their students from the day.
Angela Gunter helps the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America and National Honors Society students decorate the football field for breast cancer awareness month. Angela is heavily involved with the National Honors Society members and stays after school hours to help them with projects.
Angela Gunter waves to a student as she makes her way down the bleachers with her 3-month-old granddaughter, Jaci Howard, at a Daviess County High School football game. "She's just the best" junior Caitlin Adams says. "She's my favorite."