VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — David Molzahn Lee is living his dream as a 6th grade English teacher at Landstown Middle School in Virginia Beach. His classroom is warm, welcoming and full of encouraging messages.
His path to teaching was not typical, though. It actually started on a school bus.
"Being a bus driver has helped me kind of take a feel of like understanding the kids on a better level since I had all grades from elementary until high school," Lee said. "So I said I think I want to do something more with the students and be more of an impact."
With support from the Virginia Beach City Public Schools division, he entered Regent University while he continuing to drive a school bus. It made for a long day, starting at 5:00 a.m.
"I would take my bus and go to the school I was doing my practicums at and do that from 9:30 to 1:30 and then go back to my high school and do my afternoon runs," Lee said.
After that, he would either have more college classes to attend, or homework to complete. But after the hard work, his experience came full circle.
Lee proudly shared, "I have about ten kids in my class now that were on my bus and I've had those kids I think; some of them were from third grade."
He also shared this interesting fact: he never attended a public or private school. He was a non-traditional student.
"Me and my three other siblings... I'm the youngest of four. I was home schooled, all four of us were. And during that time period my mom and my dad, they were the teachers and my mom was actually, she was battling cancer at the time so it was a lot for her," he said.
Lee's mom lost that battle with cancer around the time he graduated high school, but he said she's always with him.
"She treated me with love, respect and kindness but with a firm hand for guidance. She really taught me how to be a teacher," he said.
With post-pandemic teacher shortages persisting, Lee is welcoming the challenge.
"I was like these kids were in their houses for a whole year. I want to help them be more comfortable with society and be able to share what they're feeling because of that," he said.
And the kids are sharing their gratitude. Some write notes to him.
"She said, I'm very grateful to have you as a teacher. Knowing your background, knowing your story, it has inspired me to become something more for myself and to do better," Lee said.
That's really the biggest lesson Lee has learned, and in turn, teaches to others.
"Persevere... persevere through anything challenging," Lee encouraged. "You gotta keep moving and you gotta keep your head held high."
The Virginia Department of Education has a career switcher program and mentor programs for new teachers.