Cedar Springs — Justin Harnden sticks to a pretty simple, straightforward rule: If he ever finds that he’s unhappy with his job for a week straight, he vows to find another line of work.
“Everyone has a bad day or two, but if I come to school and have a bad week, I’m going to find something else to do,” the Cedar Springs High School teacher said. “Life’s too short to not be happy in what you do.”
He has yet to have a bad week, partly because he has a trick for keeping negativity at bay.
“I have what’s called a rainy-day drawer — just a file folder of notes and cards and letters that kids have sent me over the years,” Harnden said. “When you have bad days, that’s your motivation.”
The notes of thanks are a comfort, reminding Harnden of the impact he’s had in his 24 years as a teacher.
Harnden has a bachelor’s degree from Saginaw Valley State University, and two master’s degrees: one in educational leadership from Grand Valley State University, and one in educational technology from the American College of Education.
He teaches media production and theater, and he’s soon to take on a new course on society and culture through the lens of film and media. The class will ask students to review everything from TikTok shorts to feature films, and then decide if society is a reflection of media, or vice versa.
When he’s not teaching, he can be found coaching the girls varsity soccer team, spending time with his wife and two stepdaughters, or riding his motorcycle.
School News Network spoke to Harnden about why he loves what he does, and the educational landscape in 2024.
What is the thing that gets you up in the morning and excited about teaching? “No. 1, every day for me is different, which I find exciting and unique. My day is dictated by what students bring to the table more than anything else.
“And then, realistically, the biggest thing is to make an impact on students’ lives. … I see kids that came out of my class that are teachers or doctors, lawyers, fantastic parents — whatever. That’s the cool part, when you see that all come together.”
What are some of the biggest challenges and how do you strive to meet them? “The hardest thing we still deal with is that you’re fighting an ongoing battle with social media. And you’re fighting that all the time.
“(Students) are so dependent on electronic media or social media — or just having a constant connection with the world — that it’s hard to fight that.”
Harnden emphasizes media literacy and critical thinking to show students how to responsibly interpret all that stimuli.
“I make you work with different people; I make you listen to different sides of the story, and I think that’s imperative.”
‘We’re not the highest paid profession in the world by far, but the impact you can have is greater than people that make 10 times what you make.’
Cedar Springs High School teacher Justin Harnden
What are some of the biggest differences in teaching pre- and post-pandemic? “Since the pandemic, kids are more and more stuck in their world,” said Harnden. “There are so many people that are more comfortable doing it their own way, supposedly, and not getting out to the collaboration and connection of human communication.
“They got comfortable being a face on the screen; but in reality, our world still ticks with relationships and communication and connection. You’re going to need that human connection somewhere, so we have to keep grinding that way.”
Harnden has also seen students struggle with self-discipline since COVID.
“I think it’s starting to shift a little bit, but it’s still at a point now where some kids are just, like, ‘Whatever,’ instead of grinding and pushing forward,” he said.
What’s the most amazing thing about teaching high school students? “They bring the energy and it’s fun,” he said. “Every class is unique in its own way. My intro-level classes are freshmen through seniors, … so you’ve got that huge microcosm of society in one room. And I think it’s so fun to see that.”
It’s also thrilling to see students find their calling while studying media.
“We’ve got kids out of my programs that are working for news stations, working on TV, working as newscasters, having their own studios — they’re doing amazing things, and they found their passion in this room. I think it’s so cool to see that, and that’s what makes it really worth it,” he said. “Is every kid going to find your class as their passion? Not a chance. But for those ones that do, and they get it, it’s really fun to watch and be a part of.”
What would you say to someone considering teaching as a profession? “Make sure you go into the career path for the right reasons, and make sure you go in there to make an impact in a positive light for as many students as you possibly can.
“There are still educators in this world that are here because they want a paycheck all year round and they want their summers off, and it’s not what their passion really is. It’s frustrating from a professional perspective.
“It’s not about a paycheck. We’re not the highest paid profession in the world by far, but the impact you can have is greater than people that make 10 times what you make. You’ve got to make sure you do it justice and be good to your kids and be there for them. … Those kids deserve your best, all the time.”
What do you like about teaching your subject? Visual arts and media, Harnden said, are “the ultimate form of expression.”
“You get to see different ideas and different mentalities and different belief systems and different ways to communicate,” he said. “And it’s so fun to see kids create things. Whether it’s a 5-minute skit or a 3-minute video, you get to see kids put their heart and soul into something and it’s so cool to see that final product at the end.”
Read more from Cedar Springs:
• Cedar Springs eighth-graders moving to middle school
• Finding the right vision: High-schoolers create commercials for area businesses
