We interviewed Rachel Blanks, a Dayton Public Schools fourth grade teacher at Edison PreK-6 School, for the 2018 – 2019 school year.

Why did you become a teacher?

I had this plan that I would be at a Fortune 500 company or Wall Street. But my senior year of college, I took a job at a school and I realized that education was for me. I wanted to impact people, and what better way to change the world than to help change the people who are going to run the world? 

Why did you choose to teach in Dayton Public Schools?

I am a product of DPS. I went to Dayton Public Schools up until I went to Florida A&M University. My father always worked in the Dayton Public School District as a staff member and my mom volunteered at the district beginning in 1990. My first year of teaching at DPS was in 2012. It was nice to be able to come back and to be in a district where I could work with the people who helped mold me. I began my teaching career at Wogaman and was there for four years. This is my third year at Edison. 

How would you describe your style of teaching?

Crazy, eclectic, and student driven. For me, teaching is like being Willy Wonka in my very own chocolate factory. I think if more people would put the fun back into learning, we would be better off. 

Each year, my classroom has a different theme. This year is a campsite – “Camp Read a Lot.” In the past, themes have included Hollywood, “Starbooks” cafe and Reading Rainforest. I also have makerspaces for the students. I let them make things that relate to what they are learning. Every year, I also teach them about entrepreneurship, and they make purses and hairbows out of chip bags, notebooks out of cereal boxes and things like that.

We are a little crazy. We have chants. We do a “stump me” challenge where we all read something and they ask me questions. They ask tough questions. This is organized chaos but I love it. Today they will be popping balloons with questions inside and answering them. I hate the popping sound, but the students like it. 

What do you like most about teaching in Dayton Public Schools?

I like teaching here because it gives me the opportunity to give back. I spent 13 years of my life in Dayton Public. I think you should teach every child as if he or she is your own child. It is truly all about the students. For 7.25 hours a day, I let them know they will one day run the world. I think the sooner they understand that the better off we all will be.