Episode 6: Tom Gerken - Teacher of Record(s)

Guest Friends

My guest for this episode of the Guest Friends podcast is my former 6th grade teacher at Taylor Elementary School: Tom Gerken. Tom was born in Ohio, but he spent his entire 37-year teaching career and raised his family "North of the boarder" in Livonia, Michigan. Although retired from the classroom now, Tom continues to lead an active and healthy lifestyle - including still running 2-miles every day. I'd imagine that not too many people get the chance to reconnect with one of their favorite teachers later in life - let alone interview them. So I was grateful to have the opportunity to meet up with Tom after running into him at an Al Kaline autograph signing at Comerica Park in Detroit this past Fall. Amongst other insights, Tom shares how little league baseball and his love of the Detroit Tigers influenced his teaching career; how being pink-slipped twelve of his first thirteen years in the profession was an unwelcome introduction to the political process; and how his students in the '70s got an education in the "History of Rock & Roll" as part of his early curriculum stylings.

We'd enjoy your comments or questions:

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LINKS RELATED TO THIS EPISODE:

Logo Credit: Saint-Creative.com

Music Credit: Of Asaph (James Alleman)

RECOMMENDED RESOURCES:

Documentary: American Teacher

Book: Tribe of Mentors (by Tim Ferriss)

1999 Teacher of the Year: Andy Baumgartner

Article: Michigan K-12 Funding

1968 World Champion: Detroit Tigers

Article: The 50s - A Decade of Music That Changed the World (Rolling Stone)