One name that is well known throughout Portage High School is Marcia Hobart. Upon graduating from Valparaiso University and receiving a degree with a double major in English and Secondary Education Hobart spent six years teaching at Calumet High School before coming to PHS.
In recent years, the number of teachers has been declining due to lack of interest in teaching.
“Initially [I choose to teach] for my love of literature and writing,” Hobart said.
Not often do you expect a teacher to learn from their students. Hobart’s interaction with her students allows her to learn and challenge her own views.
“First of all their fresh perspective on life often makes me rethink my approach they also remind me that everyone has his or her own stories,” Hobart said. “They teach me compassion.”
Just as much as Hobart is impacted by her students, they are equally if not more impacted by her. PHS seniors Shelby Sutphin and Nick Blue have felt Hobart’s impact.
“She has impacted my life in such a positive way, she's one of the only adults that I can go to when I'm in need and I rely on her for advice,” Sutphin said.
“Personally, I feel like Marcia has always been there for me even though I don’t see her everyday, something I'm truly grateful for,” Blue said. “She's an excellent teacher and gave me skills to succeed both in and out of an English class. In short, she's the bomb.”
If one thing is for sure it is that students are comfortable in trusting their beliefs, worries, troubles and concerns with Mrs. Hobart.
“I listen to them a lot,” Hobart said. “Just listen. I don't always have the solution and they don't always want solutions and it’s tattooed on my forehead ‘tell me your secrets’.”
PHS senior Devin Fravel knows that he can confide in Hobart.
“She's very open minded and listens, then gives good advice and helps me through the situation with a positive outlook on things,” Fravel said.
Entering her eighth year at PHS Hobart has involved herself with Natural Helpers. As the co-sponsor for the group, Hobart works with a student staff to put on weekend long trip to help other students with decision making and other common high school problems.
“We plan a three-day, two-night retreat in the spring for peer selected retreatants,” Hobart said.
Natural Helpers is just another opportunity for Hobart to further her impact on the students of Portage High School.
“When I had to make the difficult decision to step away from my position as a staff leader for this year's retreat, even though she was upset, she respected my decision and supported me through my choice and all that came with that choice, something that meant more than I can ever say,” Blue said.
After beginning teaching Hobart made a quick realization.
“I don't think that before I started teaching that I realized the importance an educator has in a student's life,” Hobart said. “A clear example was when one of my students invited me to parents day Purdue West Lafayette and I attended as her parent. She is now thirty and I just attended her baby shower.”
It is clear that Marcia Hobart has and will continue to learn from her students and provide them with someone they can trust.