Steven Forsythe

During the 2021-2022 school year, Steven Forsythe was a substitute teacher for the social studies department here at RB, but he has recently begun instructing academic support courses.

Forsythe is an alumni from Eastern Illinois University with a major in history education, and he’s specializing in academic support classes here at RB. 

“When you first walk in, my board is full of algebra. I have two algebra academic support classes, and I’m able to help with basic, basic stuff, but all the other classes are just general academic support,” Forsythe said. “I feel like my specific strengths are teaching writing…and just anything social studies. Well, that’s what I went to school for, so I’m the most comfortable with it.”

Before RB, Forsythe has upheld numerous substitute positions for different schools. However, last school year, he was functioning within RB’s social studies department.

“Prior to this school year, I was a substitute for Ms. Trevino over in social studies here at RB. Before that, I jumped around a different schools subbing, but my very first assignment was in early 2021 for a teacher at my own high school,” Forsythe said. 

Forsysthe thanks RB for the opportunities he has received as an early teacher.

“Well, they [RB] gave me a chance. I mean, it’s really the most you can ask for as an early teacher is for someone to believe in you and give you a shot at doing what you want to do,” Forsythe said. 

When he was younger, Forsythe was inspired by his own teachers in primary and high school to pursue a career in education. 

“I think it’s—you hear this answer a lot—my own teachers, and how they shepherded me personally. They deal with a lot of students, they shepherd us through what can be a very difficult time in our lives as we grow up and get ready for life out in the real world…I imagine myself being that role and paying for it a little bit,” Forsythe said. 

Forsythe hopes to obtain more experience in classroom management, along with the skills he already has. 

“It gives me an opportunity to practice classroom management and behavior management as opposed to content and grading. Plus, I’m going to school to get a special education endorsement because many students have a disability of some kind. Making sure they’re included in the educational experience is pretty important,” Forsythe said.

According to Forsythe, this teaching opportunity is a learning opportunity to moderate and educate students.

“There is a ton of different decisions that you need to make in over the course of a single day, and we all leave here at the end of the school day feeling a little beat up. My student-teaching was full remote, so I didn’t really get a chance to learn on-the-ground. So my goal for this school year is to improve on, and be responsible for what the students are doing and for what they’re doing. Beyond, well ultimately, most teachers are going to hope to have a class load in their content area, and I’ll get there some day. It might not be for the next few years, but eventually I’ll get there,” Forsythe said.