Stephen F. Austin State University

Daniel Hobbs is motivated, organized and has rapport with his students -- and these are among the attributes that earned him the title "Outstanding Student Teacher of the Year."

Hobbs, a New Boston senior who completed his student teaching at Nacogdoches High School, hopes to teach biology after graduating from Stephen F. Austin State University in May. One day, he hopes to work as a principal.

Carolyn Mathews, the SFA adjunct faculty member who supervised Hobbs' student teaching, said he has what it takes to be a first-rate teacher and administrator.

"His lessons are well thought-out, informed and interesting," she said. "He's also flexible."

Mathews saw Hobbs' flexibility put to the test on the day of his final evaluation. He had planned for his students to play a game modeled after the television show "Jeopardy," and he borrowed "buzzers" from SFA to facilitate the exercise.

Shortly after the game started, a water pipe burst in a classroom wall. Water started pouring into the room, and Hobbs quickly had to evacuate the students and remove all the electrical buzzers.
"He got the students set up in the commons area (at the high school), and they went on as if nothing had happened," Mathews said. "He has a way of settling them down. He's only 22, but he's very mature and he just has an air about him."

Hobbs was recently recognized at a reception on campus for all the secondary-level student teachers.

His mentor teacher, Amanda Garner, was among those in attendance, along with NHS principal Dennis Williams, who told the prospective teachers what administrators are looking for in new-hires.

"We want teachers who strive for excellence and who see the glass as half-full," he said. "We want teachers who will put it all on the line for their students, and who will stay the course."

Williams told a story of "where the key to success is hidden," saying only those who diligently search will find it.

"If it was hidden in the ocean, man would swim to it," he said. "If it was hidden on a mountain, man would climb to it. Instead the key hidden in man's heart, where he rarely thinks to look for it."

Williams said the best teachers do find the key to success and the motivation to do a good job in their hearts.

The reception honoring Hobbs followed a teacher job fair on campus. Julie Grothein, a Longview senior, received honorable mention student teacher of the year.