Claudia Swisher, Doctor of Social Studies

Claudia Swisher received an honorary Doctor of Social Studies at Grinnell College Commencement 2016.

About Claudia Swisher

Swisher was an English teacher for several decades at Norman North High School in Norman, Okla., where she was admired for going above and beyond in her efforts to connect with students. Swisher is known for her belief that education should be formed around children and their interests rather than having those interests manipulated to conform to education. She received an honorary doctor of social studies degree.

Acceptance Speech

Transcript

Awesome. Thank you to President Kington, the board of trustees, the faculty of Grinnell and the honorary degree selection committee for this recognition.

Thank you to Rachel Bly and the conference operations staff for making arrangements, but most of all, thank you Jennifer Joy for making this invitation to return to Iowa and to participate in your graduation.

My husband and I started our post graduate careers just down the road in Iowa City. Those years were eventful. I taught at Clear Creek High School where I learned to make connections with students and to be reflective and intentional. Our son started school in Iowa and our daughter was born here. This state prepared us for our next adventure which was Norman, Oklahoma.

To return now to be part of this graduation ceremony, to see Jennifer, to meet my very own U.S. Representative Tom Cole, and listen to Zadie Smith is a thrill and Jennifer made it happen. Jennifer and I met in my English elective reading for pleasure. I know some of you would've loved to have joined us and others are wondering how you could spend a semester reading for pleasure, but we bonded over reading, writing, thinking and talking about books.

When Jennifer said she was coming to Grinnell, I knew your splendid reputation, and I knew she would be challenged and nurtured. I will admit I warned her about the winters. This was the right place for her to grow as a person and to be here as she graduates warms my heart.

Your tradition of honoring a classroom teacher, one who represents all the teachers who contributed to your success recognizes that unique mission of all educators. I'm grateful you were encouraged to look back and think about your K-12 teachers.

This tradition connects you from your first day of kindergarten to this, your last day as an undergrad sitting with friends ready to leave school for a while and find your path. I attended your baccalaureate yesterday and I witnessed the strong connections you have with the professors and staff at Grinnell. I was moved by the hugs and smile, and I know your time here was also full of positive relationships.

This honor bestowed by Grinnell and by Jennifer is the highest honor a teacher can earn. We live our life with students. We create learning communities and grow together. Students keep us young and you age us prematurely. You challenge us and mystify us. You find your ways into our hearts and you never leave. This is what it is to be a teacher, to stay wake worrying about a student, to spend hours grading papers, writing notes on them, to invent that Friday blessing to remind you how precious you are. You are our treasures. You are the beacon to a time we will not see.

I'm here today, but I know each of you could name a teacher who believed in you, supported you, encouraged you. I'm seeing nods. I love that. Someone who deserves to be standing here watching you graduate from Grinnell. Maybe it was the teacher who taught you to read or a school librarian, or an orchestra teacher, a history teacher, a math teacher, a coach who pushed you to excel, the teacher who showed you the solar system or the beauty of a sonnet. I know each of you is here today partially because of classroom teachers.

Class of 2016, promise me that you'll write a note to that teacher thanking him or her and telling about your successes here at Grinnell and your plans for after graduation, reconnect, tell that person what he or she meant to you. Thank teacher for me and for yourself. I promise it will mean the world to your teacher. Read a book for pleasure. I highly recommend a Zadie Smith book.

Thank you again and congratulations to all of you.