Mr. Skinner’s awesome.
Mr. Skinner’s cool, but he’s retiring.
Mr. Skinner’s awesome, at everything.
Six weeks is an eternity for 50 elementary students to keep a secret, especially from a teacher who has been in the classroom for 38 years.
But retiring teacher Jeff Skinner didn’t have the slightest hint that his fifth graders had written a song honoring him, had practiced it since early April and would be performing it during the hugely attended elementary spring concert, held in the new gym on May 19.
Skinner only found out about the song during the concert, when director Lacee Johnson called him up front for the rousing performance of “Mr. Skinner’s Awesome!”
“I had no clue,” Skinner said. “I am sitting up their thinking ‘this is about somebody else.’”
Mr. Skinner history lesson
Mr. Skinner teaches us math operations.
Measurement, multiplying, division and decimals, don’t forget fractions.
Telling jokes, lots of bad ones, but
He’s the #1 teacher of all!
Skinner grew up in Rosemount, Minnesota and was one of 350 students of the Rosemount High class of 1981. Uncertain of his career path, he attended Normandale Community College for two years and then decided to go into education.
“My dad influenced me the most with this decision. He had been a teacher and then became a principal. He and I had many discussions about me going into teaching, and he encouraged me to pursue it as a career."
So, majoring in elementary education, he graduated from Mankato State University in the spring of 1987.
Skinner’s father was a principal at Cedar Park Elementary School in Apple Valley then, and he had hired a teacher by the name of Rob Metz, who happened to have taught fifth grade at Cleveland Public School.
“My dad told me there was probably an opening at Cleveland, so I applied.”
Skinner met with the principal at that time, Mel Goede. After the interview, Goede offered him the position, and he started as a fifth-grade teacher in the fall of 1987. Skinner has taught either fifth grade or sixth grade at Cleveland ever since.
All told, over 720 students have gone through his classroom.
A rewarding 38 years
Geometry, algebra, we can’t even name them all!
Estimating, place value, we all try our best for you!
Heat, energy, sound, and light, he has taught us science right!
Lots of work and some tests, Mr. Skinner is the best!
“I did not originally plan to stay at Cleveland for my entire teaching career," Skinner said, "but I enjoyed the area, met many new friends, and ended up getting married and raising a family. It has turned out to be a tremendously great experience and a great decision to be at Cleveland for my career.”
Cleveland is a unique and special school, Skinner said.
“Since it is a Pre-K through 12th-grade school, the teachers can see students that have been in their classroom grow, mature, and eventually graduate. The staff becomes close because it is smaller, and it enables everyone to help each other.”
Education can be a challenging profession, but seeing students grow and learn has been extremely rewarding, he said.
“Watching students work hard to learn a difficult concept…hearing the quiet buzz of their conversations about the topic as they help each other learn and understand…building positive relationships between students… these are some of the enjoyable parts of being a teacher.”
Meanwhile, Skinner’s fifth graders appreciated his unique brand of humor, energy and patience. He made an environment conducive to learning, they said.
“I love how Mr. Skinner always brings a smile to the classroom,” said Kenzie Sandhurst.
“He’s always ready to have a good day,” said Kendall Kern. “Every day he comes in with a ‘Good morning!’”
“He tells lots of jokes,” said Breanna Bosse.
“I think all of us like it when he says brain rot words (gen alpha slang), like “slay,” “rizz,” “sigma,” and “skibidi,” said Mia Eisel.
“If we don’t understand or if we are doing a new thing, he is really good at explaining it in many different ways,” said Karleigh Duffey.
Skinner said hearing a song about himself was surreal. Thirty minutes after the concert ended, the performance hadn’t sunk in yet.
In his retirement, Skinner plans to spend more time with his and wife Tami’s adult children and their grandsons, go camping and substitute teach. He also wants to volunteer with different organizations to “help give back to the community.”
Fun, nice, kind you’re awesome!
Neat, sweet, a treat, you’re awesome!
You're the best, it’s true, you’re awesome!
Everything you do or think or say, is awesome!
We’ll miss you Mr. Skinner!
Video: Students rehearsing “Mr. Skinner’s Awesome!”