Teacher of the Week: Mark Wade

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Remember middle school science? A lot of Mark Wade’s students do.

Some of his former students join current students in showing their appreciation for a teacher who teaches more than just science.

This educator gets respect by giving respect.

“In this classroom we try to create an environment everybody’s a teacher,” Wade, a 7th grade science teacher at Williston Middle School, said. “Everybody’s a teacher here, and even I’m a student most days.”

That’s how Wade feels about his days at work. It’s a philosphy that led a former student to nominate him for Teacher of the Week.

“Humbling,” Wade said of the nomination. “Humbling is a word that comes to my mind. That’s overwhelming almost. Sometimes you don’t know if you’re making a difference. You’re hoping you are and it’s just good to hear from a student who benefitted from what we try to do here at Williston.”

And in his 34 years of teaching he’s learned a valuable lesson.

“When you respect the student you’re gonna make sure you get what they’re supposed to get,” he said. “You’re gonna hold their feet to the fire so to speak and you’re gonna be supportive.”

And it’s a lesson that his student’s don’t always understand… right now.

“I tell my students that they may not understand right now, but years later they will, and they’ll appreciate it years later,” Wade said.