The Lafayette Education Foundation is getting ready to honor the best teachers in the parish at next month's LEF Awards. Paul Conover is one of those finalists. He has been teaching for 20 years, with the past six years spent at Paul Breaux Middle School. While he's been nominated for an LEF award in the past, he says the experience is always humbling.
"It's always overwhelming and really humbling because you realize it's actually a kid that submitted a nomination," Conover said. "I know one kid came and told me he had written a letter for me and I said 'Wow did you do that as a class project?' and he said 'No, I did that on my own time.' That's really gratifying. "
Inside Conover's class, you'll find science projects and creations all made by students, but the biggest lesson he wants his students to take away is love.
"I see these kids and they're young teenagers and that's a tough time for everybody and they need love," Conover said.
"I think everyone, when you see someone's vulnerability our heart goes out to them. I try to explain that to them that love is really all that matters. I give them all of my heart. They're wonderful and incredible kids. How can you not love them."
He wants to make sure his students are prepared for the future.
"I want to make sure that they're college ready," Conover said. "We do a lot of hands on stuff and when there's an opportunity I have them read a book and actually understand the text book. They think I'm great but it's really they're the ones that are great and I'm just the person standing in front of them."
