Why I Teach: Tanner Schmidt, 2nd Grade Teacher

Background and Motivation

Tanner Schmidt, a 2nd grade teacher at Jeffries Elementary in Springfield, Missouri, shares his inspiration for teaching. Driven by a belief that all students deserve a safe place to learn, Schmidt recalls the influence of his own elementary teacher, who supported a struggling student in need. He admired how she created a nurturing environment and aimed to do the same for his own future students.