Until I took Dr. Offutt’s class in DeMatha High school, I was an underachieving student, but I left that class determined never to underachieve again. He not only taught me to think, he convinced me, as much by example as words that it was my duty to achieve and to serve others. Neither of us could know how our relationship would develop over the years. When I came back to DeMatha to teach English, I worked for Dr. Offutt, the department chair. My discussions with him were like graduate seminars(研究生讨论课) in adolescent development, classroom management and school leadership. After several years, I was named department chair, and our relationship shifted(变化) again. I thought that it might be terrible chairing the department, since all of my former English teachers were still there, but Dr. Offutt supported me through. He knew when to give me advice about curriculum(课程), texts and personnel(人事), and when to let me plan my own course. In 1997, I needed his opinion about leaving DeMatha to become principal at another school. If he had asked me to stay at DeMatha, I might have. Instead, he encouraged me to catch the chance. Five years ago, I became the principal(校长) of DeMatha. Once again, Dr Offutt was there for me, letting me know that I could depend on him. I have learned from him that great teachers have an inexhaustible wealth of lessons to teach. 小题1:After graduating from DeMatha, the writer was _____.
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