Teacher of the Week: Steve Dixen, Knox Junior High

As a society, we may forget that teachers are public employees in the vein of firefighters, policemen and politicians. Teachers perform a public service. To become a teacher is a choice to forsake the almighty dollar and instead serve the interests of the general public (that’s you and me). So it’s worthwhile to recognize this sacrifice and acknowledge teachers for the heroes they are--heroes in the everyday war of attrition we wage against ignorance and apathy. In this weekly series, Woodlands Online features one Woodlands area educator for his or her outstanding contributions to our children’s development.

THE WOODLANDS, Texas – Steve Dixen is an 8th grade pre-algebra teacher at Knox Junior High in CISD. Dixen has been teaching for a total of nine years, and has been at Knox for the past three years.

Originally from Minnesota, Dixen didn’t always know he wanted to teach. In fact, he attended Luther College in Iowa to obtain his bachelor’s degree in business management and economics.

“I didn’t decide to teach until over a decade after I’d gotten my BA in business,” said Dixen. “I was a lousy and disinterested businessman. Therefore I job-hopped, thinking I could find something that fit.”

It wasn’t until his wife, Heather, suggested that he become a teacher that Dixen found his true calling. He went back to school to obtain his masters degree in teaching from Bellarmine University and has been teaching ever since. When teaching his students, Dixen notes that it’s the small things that make his job so worthwhile.

“There are great moments every day when a kid who is struggling finally has a light go off and starts volunteering to work problems in front of the class.”

One of Dixen’s favorite activities he likes to do with his students is a lemonade lab that helps the kids learn about proportionality. He makes three lemonade mixes of various strengths and then the class checks the color and taste, although he admits that two of the mixes are not exactly pleasant to taste. The students then examine the amounts of lemonade mix versus the amount of water.

Along with out-of-the-box activities, Dixen also has a not so-ordinary-plan to encourage learning in his classroom.

“I'm about to start a fundraiser to raise money to buy exercise balls to replace the chairs and desks in my room. I've read a lot of research about people learning better when there is a little movement involved, rather than just sitting for 50 minutes in a static position. I really think it can help most of these kids focus better in class,” said Dixen. “I also put white boards all around my room so that I can get every kid up out of their desks and working problems on the board. It helps them get moving and allows me to see their work.”

Even after they leave his classroom and move on to high school, Dixen hopes that every student, in their own way, has made improvements throughout the school year in his math class.

“I want some kids to have gotten over their fear of math and to realize that a math class and math itself can be fun,” said Dixen. “For others, I want them to become better problem solvers who don't give up so easily when confronted with a challenge. I get a few kids every year pouring their hearts out to me bit by bit as the year goes on. I want them to know I care and that they have someone in their corner.”

At the end of each school year, Dixen always tells his kids that they can come back for tutoring if they ever need help with their high school math class, free of charge. Even when his students have moved on to the next chapter of their lives, Dixen still wants to see them succeed in everything they do.

Outside of the classroom, Dixen loves to read and scuba dive, although his hobbies have taken a back seat to spending time with his two children, Jake and Natalie.

Steve Dixen was nominated by our Facebook fan, Erin Crocker.