Mr. Susman Feature Profile

     
  Micah Susman, has been apart of the McCallum High School Staff for 10 years now. He has been teaching the subject of English Language Arts, to several grades and generations throughout his years, currently working with 9th graders today, he also is involved with teaching other classes, however he is mostly known as a an English teacher. From being a rookie to being an expert, he now has learned how to balance his job and his life at home, including handling situations with parents, behavioral issues and all the little things.  Mr. Susman has found the way to enjoy his life a bit more throughout his entire teaching experience.
        Even though teaching the same topics and lessons every year might get a bit exhausting, Mr. Susman finds that students are his motivation to keep him going, "...I like meeting new people, I like sharing new ideas, I like learning from them and all of their backgrounds as well." Throughout the course of the year, freshmen learn many topics, and do many readings to help them comprehend these topics. Mr. Susman shares with us that his favorite subject to teach students about is, existentialism and the absurd with the connection to The Stranger, written by Albert Camus. Yet he wishes that his students also, "...enjoy The Alchemist, and some of the ideas that things do matter as well."
        Teaching for such a long period of time, a memorable year Mr. Susman connects to is, "...when I was teaching seniors and we lost a couple of students that year." It's very tough to deal with a loss of a fellow student, but yet Mr. Susman kept going. However, Mr. Susman does have plans for his near future career, "...I am considering taking some time off, to raise my daughter...until she goes to kindergarten and then I would go back and maybe work full time..." He also included that he felt, like he works too much for the amount he gets paid, and its not worth to loose time with his loved ones. Considering, the fact of living in South Austin, and the growth of Austin as a city, has caused a long car ride from home and work a week, which he much rather be spending with family.

Many future generations will lose the teaching of Mr.Susman, throughout their high school years here at McCallum. Accomplishing his goal by allowing himself to, "sharing new philosophical ideas, and… introducing ways of thinking almost more than skills", with the students, Mr.Susman sees that its more important to extend a students mind farther beyond improvement in just reading and writing skills, overall showing the loss of a teacher McCallum is going to have a hard time to replace. Mr.Susman concludes that he thinks that teaching English is his skill and he will always teach it in some way, even though it will not be in a classroom. He recently is letting his classes know about his decision to resign at McCallum, hoping that his current and formal students here it from him and know that he is leaving for the right reasons. Mr.Susman, does not want this to be a sad farewell, instead he jokes with his classes about the fact, that if they ever see him in the street to at least be kind and throw in some cash.