Episode Details
Back to Episodes
Classroom Volunteer John Titus Changing Lives with His Love for Students and Learning
Description
She says working with him is like winning the lottery every single day at Fort Herriman Middle School.
On this episode of the Supercast, we take you inside teacher Kimberly Mendenhall’s classroom where a volunteer by the name of John Titus has become a priceless part of instruction. Mr. Titus spends every minute he can helping to change lives with his love for students and their learning. Despite being retired, John shows up for students and Ms. Mendenhall almost every single day.
Audio Transcription
[MUSIC]Anthony Godfrey:
Hello and welcome to the Supercast. I'm your host, Superintendent Anthony Godfrey. She says working with him is like winning the lottery every single day at Fort Herriman Middle School.
On this episode of the Supercast, we take you inside teacher Kimberly Mendenhall's classroom, where a volunteer by the name of John Titus has become a priceless part of instruction. Mr. Titus spends every minute he can helping to change the lives of students with his love for learning. Despite being retired, John shows up for students and Mrs. Mendenhall almost every single day.
[MUSIC]We're here in Kimberly Mendenhall's classroom at Fort Herriman Middle School to learn a little bit about what you're doing here. But let's start off with an introduction of your long time dedicated volunteer here in the class.
Kimberly Mendenhall:
You bet. So this is Mr. Titus. His name is Jonathan Titus and I will actually let him introduce himself.
John Titus:
Hi. I've been volunteering here now for probably five years. I came down and just made contact with Kim Mendenhall and have enjoyed the experience immensely. It's a great school, great staff, excellent teacher. My background is actually in science and chemistry after college degrees. While I worked on my doctorate, I used mini computers at the time, small microwave-sized computers or refrigerator-sized. And I found that I was much more interested than that than chemistry.
Anthony Godfrey:
Yeah.
John Titus:
So my brother and I started an electronics consulting firm and designed and built electronic equipment for people. We also did a lot of writing about electronics and computers, wrote a number of books. And then I went to work for a publishing company. I became the chief editor of two electrical engineering magazines.
Anthony Godfrey:
Wow.
John Titus:
And then retired and we moved out here.
Anthony Godfrey:
Now tell me what year you started working with small computers.
John Titus:
Probably '71 or '72. So that's back a ways.
Anthony Godfrey:
Wow. Way back in the 1900s.
John Titus:
Yes.
Anthony Godfrey:
And that's-- so you've been in on the ground floor of this for a long time.
John Titus:
That's true. Yes.
Anthony Godfrey:
Well, it's such an incredible opportunity for Kim to have you as a resource in the classroom and for the students to have access and the chance to learn from someone who's been a part of computers from the start, really.
John Titus:
Well, thank you. I just enjoy it immensely working with the students and working with Mrs. Mendenhall. I just enjoy being here and enjoy seeing the progress that the kids make.
Anthony Godfrey:
Tell me about Kim Mendenhall as a teacher.
John Titus:
Outstanding. She loves the kids. She really does. Even when they're acting up, she loves them through and through.
Anthony Godfrey:
Through and through.
John Titus:
I can't say enough good things about her. I really enjoy working with her. And I think we make a good team, volunteer and teacher.
Anthony Godfrey:
That's obvious that great things are happening because of the work you do together.
John Titus:
It’s fun. I enjoy it.
Kimberly Mende