While strolling through the Student Center, you are bound to be met with a friendly smile, whether the smile is from a classmate or the king of the Student Center, Mr. Al Pace. Mr. Pace is known school-wide for his friendliness, helpfulness, and, of course, his wide range of knowledge.
“I probably started my journey to becoming a teacher in my senior year of high school and continued into my freshman year of college,” said Pace, ”I wasn’t a really good athlete, and I really struggled with academics when I was younger.”
He credits most of who he is to his former coaches and teachers. Including one that advocated for him at a young age and made him fall in love with learning.
“I had really good coaches and teachers who found ways to make me successful,” Pace explains “I struggled in reading, through elementary school, and my counselor, figured out in third grade that I had a mild form of dyslexia, and she found me the help I needed, which made school a lot easier.”
Many people probably assume that Mr Pace knows everything. No matter what kind of question you have, he will probably answer it. Whether it’s about life, math, or science, he’s the guy to go to.
“I had a really, super good education in junior high and high school. I think Marshalltown High School really prepared me for my adult life,” Pace said. “I really like to read, so I have a good memory of these concepts.”
Sitting at Mr. Pace’s table in the student center is an experience most students can recall. He often has a conversation about a situation going on at school and gives the students his advice on what they should do. Usually, the conversation contains comedic elements that make it helpful and enjoyable for both parties.
“Kids laugh and giggle a little bit, but I think I’m fairly true if kids are struggling, I just tell them I’m they’re struggling, if they’re having a bad day, I tell them it’s okay to have a bad day. I think we also make fun of each other when we’re having bad days, which I think is perfectly okay,” Pace shares, “Part of it is just being open and honest with kids and telling them what I think and feel and telling them it’s okay, even if they succeed or fail.”
Many students share their appreciation for conversations with Pace and his advice on what they are struggling with. Although these conversations are intended to help the student, Pace also feels fulfillment from the conversations.
“Every day with students I am learning,” Pace said. “Like the other day, we had some AP stats things, and I just didn’t know the answers, so we worked on it together, I am learning right along with them.”
Mr Pace always strives to keep a comforting environment for students and a safe place to feel like they can go to for anything.
“Part of it is just being open and honest with kids and telling them what I think and feel and telling them it’s okay, even if they succeed or fail,” Pace shares. “Kids laugh and giggle a little bit, but I think I’m fairly true if kids are struggling, I just tell them I’m they’re struggling, if they’re having a bad day, I tell them it’s okay to have a bad day. I think we also make fun of each other when we’re having bad days, which I think is perfectly okay.”
Although it seems like he knows it all now, even he has to learn. Even after Decades of teaching, he sometimes has to crack open a textbook too.
“Every day with students I am learning,” Pace said. “Like the other day, we had some AP stats things, and I just didn’t know the answers, so we worked on it together. I am learning right along with them.”
His advice for new teachers wanting to make a lasting impact:
“Get to know your students. Find out their names as soon as you can once you become a first-year teacher.”
Mr. Pace is an amazing teacher and always helpful when you may be struggling, he wants to remind students, “It’s okay to fail. And it’s also okay to try things that you think are gonna be hard and things that you really don’t like because through that adversity we come out the other side a better person.”