Teachers Attend This Man's Class To Rediscover Their Love For Teaching

October 5, 2017

Dancing and singing are all part of a formula Dr. Richard Overfelt says is aimed at getting teachers to take themselves less seriously in the classroom.

overfelt teacher relate and have fun first
Credit: NBC News

Overfelt's students are teachers.

The 88-year-old retired principal teaches a graduate class at Truman State University to re-energize teachers and show them how to become more engaged with their students.

"I teach that if the heart is empty, it doesn't make any difference how full the head," says Overfelt.

Given the pressure today on teachers to improve their students' test scores, Overfelt sees it as his life's goal to help teachers rediscover the joy of their craft.

"He kept me in the profession when I was ready to get out," said Ken Wolfe, a middle school and high school English Language Arts teacher. "He showed me that I need to just close my door and teach and relate to the kids and meet them where they were."

Kindergarten teacher Amy Fitch says Overfelt helped her rediscover her love for singing, which she shares with her young students as she teaches.

"They're engaged, and to the kids that may not have been as engaged it's a game to them," she said. "They're learning and they don't even realize it."

Watch the video below.