Archie Rivers Named "Regular
Ed Teacher Of The Year"
May 4, 2006
By Greta Sproul After 20 years of teaching Old Town
Regional students the art of wood crafting, Archie Rivers has been
recognized for his work with the title "Regular Ed Teacher of the Year."
The Minnesota-born Rivers is a former construction worker whose
expertise and ability to communicate ideas and directions first caught
the attention of Dr. Murray Shulman, who approached him and broached the
subject of becoming the vocational shop teacher at Old Town Regional.
"I'd never thought of being a teacher before that," Rivers said. "But I
guess Dr. Shulman just saw something in me." Rivers'
teaching style may be described as "hands-on," but his students are
recipients of much more than just his technical expertise. Like any good
teacher, Rivers cares passionately about what he does and passes that on
to his students.
"I love seeing my students succeed," Rivers said.
"That's why I do this. I really couldn't tell you what specific thing I
do that makes my work stand out other than I just love it and do the
best that I can." Rivers' "best" begins every year with
the assignment of an initial project to each of his classes, which span
elementary, middle, and high school levels. After that project is
completed, students are allowed to choose their own project on which to
work. This year, some of Rivers' elementary students decided to make
wooden cars like the Pinewood Derby models used by the Boy Scouts. One
of his high school level students is building a doghouse. A female
student is in the process of creating a nightstand with its own
customized touches. Some of the students' work is so good that it has
been purchased by school staff members. A tool shed that the high school
class is now working on will eventually be sold to Old Town School
Superintendent David Walker.
Rivers says that his 99% of the students in his vocational shop classes
are male, but that his female students are just as comfortable among the
boards and drills and sanders. Boys and girls attend separate classes to
minimize the distraction that sometimes occurs when in integrated
classrooms.
"I have very little negativity in my classes," Rivers
said. "But it's very rare that we get more than seven students at any
one time, The small number of students allows me to give them all a lot
of personal attention. Also, I'm pretty easy-going, but students know
that I have a certain limit that they can't push beyond."
Rivers says that some of his students have gone on to utilize their
vocational shop skills in ways that he never would have imagined. One
former student showed up last year wearing a Homeland Security uniform.
"He was the kind of student you just knew was going to
succeed," Rivers said. "He really stood out. But when he walked in here,
wearing that uniform, I was so surprised."
Rivers was similarly surprised when he first heard the news that he had
been nominated for "Regular Ed Teacher of the Year."
"I was shocked, to tell you the truth," Rivers said. "I
couldn't believe it. Then when I actually won, I was really shocked,"
Rivers' down-to-earth style may have something to do with his interest
in country music, a genre known for producing songs that get right to
the heart of a subject. Rivers once won a trophy for his original vocal
and guitar performance at a talent show in Brewer and was subsequently
treated to an all-expense paid weeklong trip to Nashville where he met
some of his favorite country celebrities.
"I've working on a new song right now," Rivers said.
"It's about the events of 9-11."
But anyone who thinks that the array of Rivers' abilities are restricted
to just an award-winning teaching style and a talent for writing and
singing country tunes would be wrong. The self-described workaholic also
drives a CYR bus on the weekends, and once a year for the last 6 years
has assumed the role of drama coach for the students at Old Town
Regional.
"Other schools have drama programs and put on plays, and I thought we
should have one, too," Rivers said. Last year, Rivers
oversaw a production of "Santa Sees A Shrink" for which he donned a
dress and a wig when one of the students in the cast was unable to
perform. As always, when talking about the performance of the students
involved in school projects, he finds it hard to come up with enough
superlatives to do the job. "They all knew their lines,
they all had it right down to a T," he said. "Anyone who had anything to
do with the play, or who saw it, had to be proud of the way those kids
brought it altogether."
(Cut line: Rivers and one of his students beside the tool
shed that the Old Town Regional high school class is currently working
on.)
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