What do middle school teachers think about the job? ‘Middle school is a wonderful age!’

Though middle school comes with challenges and tribulations for students, being a middle school teacher can also offer loads of energy, inspiration and unique opportunities. Years spent in middle school can be formative for both teachers and students. 

Here’s what three former middle school teachers had to say about their time teaching young minds. 

Norma Wilson, who taught sixth grade world history at Belle Chase Middle School: 

“I loved all my years teaching middle school. They were independent, full of energy and kind hearted. There were not many trials and tribulations, just a different story everyday.”

After Wilson taught a unit on major world religions, she wrote that one student jumped up and shouted, “Thank you teacher. Now we know about God.” 

“They were proud of their work and what they learned,” Wilson wrote. “All received good grades. At the end of the presentations, I received my grade.” 

Angela Leverett, a retired educator of 40 years who taught in three states: 

“I always taught middle and junior high school-aged kids with learning, academic, emotional, etc. differences. A difficult job, at best. My observations about school systems, for this age group specifically, caused me many head-scratching moments. 

Students are placed in classrooms to sit at desks for an average of 45 minutes, changing supervisors and work-mates each time, about six times throughout the day. Each supervisor rattling about specific academic subjects, with specific rules and requirements unique to each supervisor. Students are subjected (pun intended) to the whims and feelings and headaches and interpretations, etc. of each supervisor, which changes every 45 minutes.” 

Wendy DeMers, a former kindergarten teacher who switched to teaching sixth grade science in New Orleans: 

“After 20 years of early childhood, I intentionally switched to a position as a sixth grade science teacher. It was quite a change in that the size of the students increased, however, these older students had the same concerns as their kindergarten counterparts.