Walking into Mr. Willis’s sophomore English classroom here at McPherson High School, it’s hard not to notice the energy and good vibes. Whether his students are having good talks with him or debating a close read assignment, the room always feels alive. That energy and his dedication to his students are exactly why Willis was recently named Teacher of the Month by Ad Astra Radio, McPherson’s local news station.
Ad Astra’s Teacher of the Month award recognizes educators who go above and beyond in the classroom. For many students, Willis fits that description perfectly. He is known for his ability to make English engaging and fun. He has a very fun way of connecting with his students.
This is now Willis’s 14th year teaching, and his seventh year at McPherson. Willis taught one year at Hutchinson, five years at Sacred Heart in Salina, and one year at Leavenworth Public Schools.
The main reason Willis had a passion to go into teaching was his mom and his sophomore English teacher, Mrs. Bach. Willis stated, “My mom was an elementary school teacher. Growing up, I spent lots of time making homework for her, coloring in things for bulletin boards, or making posters.”
Willis also stated, “When I was a sophomore, I had a really strong English teacher, Mrs. Bach, who really inspired me to be a teacher. I always wanted to teach sophomores.”
After teaching at Hutchinson for a year, Willis wanted something that was a better match for him. He had been trying to be an employee at McPherson schools for a really long time, and then the opportunity showed up. An opening for his position opened up, and he was able to take it.
As most people know, Willis creates a fun and welcoming learning environment that makes students feel excited to come to class each day. He encourages open discussions, group activities, and more that keep students engaged.
Willis stated, “I remember what it is like to be a student. I want every student to feel like they can express themselves in my room. To do that, I have to express myself. I create an environment for people who want to be here, actually enjoy the time that they are here.”
Like many educators, Willis does face challenges as a teacher every so often. “The biggest challenge is trying to work with students post-pandemic because it has been very different since COVID, between attitudes and motivation to do good work. Most of these things are very different compared to pre-2020.” Said Willis.
Willis is also a coach for the MHS Debate team. He head-coached debate for seven years. He then assisted Mr. Schopper for five years.
“I feel I got this award by luck. They take all the nominations and randomly pick from there, but I did have the largest number of nominations that they ever had.” Said Willis.
According to Willis, getting this award feels very undeserved. He feels that he does good enough work, not much significantly different than any of his peers. He is very happy that the work that he does is appreciated, and his hard work does pay off. It has been two decades now of ensuring students feel safe, comfortable, and motivated to improve. He feels nice to have this recognition from the community.
