Tch Profile: Meet Jeff Charbonneau
Program Transcript

Interviewee: I take an awful lot of pride in being named National Teacher of the Year, but it’s really not pride in my own work. It’s pride in the work that so many people are doing in education. If I can do this as a voice for what is going right in education, then I’m all in.

When I graduated from Zillah High School, I said, “First, there’s no way I’m ever comin’ back.” Obviously, here I am. Then I went up to Central Washington University and originally wanted to major in pre-medicine, thought I was gonna be a doctor. I realized something very important. It really wasn’t for me, so I switched.

I’m the first person in my family to graduate from college. It was always Jeff the doctor, Jeff the doctor, growing up.

It was really hard for me to make that switch from medicine to teaching until I realize that was my calling. It’s something that allows me to not go to work every day but just go be a teacher. The [inaudible 01:30] of becoming a teacher wasn’t a straight line, but it’s one that I’ve never regretted.

Interviewer: He’s really set the foundation for how we can have a really positive environment, so kids not only wanna come and enjoy the classes and the activities, but ask themselves, how can we make Zillah High School a better place?

Interviewer: His way of helping out, no matter what it is, he’ll put it aside and think of the kids first.

Interviewee: I think the number one thing for me is building student relationships, understanding them as people. Having that relationship with a student absolutely comes first. By knowing those students in and out of the classroom, I can change my lessons to adapt more quickly to their own learning and to things that are important to them.

Interviewer: I first started model rocketry when I was about six years old, and I’ve been interested in it since then. Then when I got to high school, Mr. Charbonneau 02:31 said, “We should do this.” He was really supportive. Now it made me sure that I wanna be an aerospace engineer someday.

Interviewee: Before school, I get here normally about 6:45 or so, plenty early so that I can have time to get ready for the school day. My son is there in the mornings, and my students really have taken him under their wing, which makes me pretty proud and pretty happy that we’re able to share that experience together. Another side of it is I get here early because many of my students do. Many of my students are wanting to come in and get to work. Whether it be for my classes or for others, they need to have a place to be. In those outside-of-classroom interactions, you can learn an awful lot that you can bring right back into the classroom.

Interviewer: Let’s say I’m not having a very good day. Just coming into his class and hearing his jokes or the way he teaches inspires you.

Interviewer: He comes from Zillah. He went to the same high school. He can really relate with us.

Interviewee: When you get up in the morning, and you have the opportunity to go out and make a difference, make a difference with my own kids, make a difference with other people’s kids, make a difference with other staff members, what a great day. Now don’t get me wrong, it’s not all rainbows and ponies. The glass is definitely half full for me, but we certainly have another half we can still fill up.

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