Issue link: http://maconmagazine.uberflip.com/i/1302808
Why did you want to become an educator? I wanted to become an educator because I believed I could make a difference in the lives of children. Secondly, I thought I had a lot to offer to the Bibb County community. What is your day-to-day role at Howard Middle School? My day-to-day role in the school is that of a leader, a parent-like figure, an encourager and an instructional innovator. I practice leading myself well and in turn offer that same level of leadership to the students I teach. Throughout the day, I continuously turn everyday events into opportunities to model and reinforce "Leader in Me" habits. Before instruction begins, I attempt to connect with as many students as possible. Some students like to talk about sports while others like to talk about Anime. During such moments, I have a parent-like role in that I'm communicating to each student that they are of high value and worth listening to. Beyond the role of a leader and parent-type figure, I have a responsibility for encouraging a love of learning while providing experiences that transcend the classroom. For example, in Unit 5 of the sixth-grade math curriculum, students learn to use 2-D nets to calculate the surface area of three- dimensional figures. A 2-D net is a flat two-dimensional pattern of a three-dimensional figure, that can be folded to form that figure. The enrichment problem I create challenges the students to design a 3-D box using Computer Aided Drawing Software. Next, the students must calculate the surface area of the printed rectangular prism with a 2-D net. In layman's terms, the students used a three-dimensional printer to make a small box out of plastic, then they used a math concept (2-D nets) to accurately wrap the box in paper. OR THE PAST 16 YEARS, Dr. Eric Fuller has taught math at Howard Middle School. But education wasn't his initial career. After graduating from the Georgia Institute of Technology, he took a job with YKK here in Macon. He says his ability to speak some Japanese helped land him the job. After working in private industry, he served as the executive director for the Beulahland Community Development Center, a faith-based nonprofit that provided housing, character development and life skills training for men desiring to overcome drug addiction. After several years of serving the south Macon community, Fuller saw education as an opportunity to continue sharing his love for learning. Get to know Macon-Bibb County's 2021 Teacher of the Year in this brief QA, and read more at maconmagazine.com. LOCAL BUZZ Get to know Dr. Eric Fuller, 2021 Bibb County Teacher of the Year BY RENEE CORWINE | PHOTO BY JESSICA WHITLEY F 24 maconmagazine.com | OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2020