Kenowa Hills — Two things in fifth-grade teacher Jeff Verkaik’s classroom bring him joy every day — his students and his plants.
He collects rare varieties of aloe, agave and Haworthia plants because they don’t grow too large, which he has to be mindful of with over 20 plants living in his classroom.
On a recent trip to Arizona to drop his oldest daughter off at college, Verkaik made an exciting purchase to add to his plant collection.
“I purchased a Queen Victoria agave, which I affectionately named ‘Queen Vicky’ and had it delivered (to school),” he said. “I built up some anticipation for her arrival, and when she finally came, we made an event out of it. Some students gave speeches, we toasted her with Diet Coke and played a few silly games in her honor.”
Queen Vicky is now a very important member of the classroom family and Verkaik said her celebration was a lighthearted way of sharing his passion for plants with his students.
“I did (the party) because when I think back to my own school days, some of my best memories were when teachers shared their personal passions,” he said. “Those experiences helped shape me into the curious and passionate person I am today.”
School News Network recently sat down with this passionate plant enthusiast to learn more about his perspective on teaching, inspiring curiosity and wonder in fifth-graders and how he strives to find joy in the classroom every day.
Why do you teach? “I teach mainly because I want to bring excitement to learning. I didn’t really like school, so my goal was to create an atmosphere that I would have liked as a kid. … There were parts I liked and those are the parts I brought to my classroom.”
What gets you up in the morning and excited about teaching? “I love teaching science. I lay in bed at night and think about how to add on to lessons and make them more engaging. I also really enjoy building relationships with the kids. (Fifth-graders) are still at the age where we can admit we like each other and school is still fun. … I want to create a sense of wonder and keep kids wondering and asking questions.”
What inspired your love for science and plants? “My favorite teacher ever was my seventh-grade science teacher. If we were talking about octopi in class, he would pull one out of the closet in a jar. He made learning fun; I went into that room wanting to know more. My grandpa also loved to garden, so I guess I grew up wanting to emulate him.”
Did you always think you would become a teacher? Verkaik previously owned a small business in Grandville. After his business partner passed away suddenly, he said, “I have to do something else, so I went back to school to become a teacher at 28 years old. Throughout that process, I figured out more of who I was and …I hope to inspire my students and show them that learning, especially in science, can be both fun and energizing.”
What are some of the biggest challenges as a teacher and how do you strive to meet them? “My biggest goal every day is to find joy in my job for myself. It’s a really hard job. I had a breakdown and almost walked away five years ago, but I still have time for me and need to make sure I’m finding joy. Kids pick up on that and teachers are human too.”
What’s the most amazing/notable/interesting thing about fifth-grade students? Before coming to Zinser in 2023, Verkaik taught middle-school science at Vanguard Charter Academy for 15 years.
“Their ability to have empathy. As an old middle school teacher, it’s amazing to me. If I have a bad day, (my students) are the first ones to cheer me up and celebrate with me on the good days.”
What is the most rewarding part of teaching? “The relationships you build. I get paid to change lives and at the end of the day, that’s pretty cool.”
What would you say to someone considering teaching as a profession? “Find joy in the journey and … don’t let the educational system take away who you are. Students are going to gain the most from knowing who you are, from building relationships and sharing your passions; that’s when learning starts to happen.”
Read more from Kenowa Hills:
• Her leadership style: bring out the best in others
• What do you want to learn? Zinser students weigh in
