I Love Teaching So Much ... I Quit | Tawana Weicker | TEDxTryon

TEDx Talk Tryon - Teaching took on a whole new meaning for this high school teacher turned biofuel eco-preneur when her students became her teachers. She learned how to transform waste into biofuel while at the same time identifying the enormous waste of knowledge, creativity and expertise that too often happens in our classrooms.
A high school teacher turned biofuel eco-entrepreuer, Tawana Weicker is the founder of Warhorse, a Columbus NC based company that forages for innovative, renewable plant oils to make effective, sustainable cleaners for people, pets and the planet. Her career turning point came when her students became her teachers, challenging her to live up to her potential and to push past her fears.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at ted.com/tedx

[@epayne]

Unschooling yourself is one of life's most exciting adventures.

[@SynFlowers]

I’m 22 and I’m doing this right now. It’s been difficult but I’ve really enjoyed it

[@camman6912]

I had a 6th grade teacher like this He made more of an impact on me than any college professor I ever had and this was in 1967 Unfortunately kids today are taking on huge student debt and getting nothing in return

[@jumperstartful]

I learned in 1962 that college is just big business.

[@AbundantlyMarquesha]

It blows my mind how people who will never set foot in a classroom to teach have so much negative things to say about teachers who quit. Keep making the world a better place whether you are in the classroom and out of the classroom.

[@stormchaser419]

I'm done after 12 years. I never encourage anyone to go into teaching.

[@amor2874]

The best part of this was charging teachers who are boring and teach boring to change it up. However, this also comes from an extremely privileged woman who could quit her job. I would prefer to see someone from a marginalized community and see their take on this.

[@V.Z.69]

The best thing I love about this woman is that she did her own research. School does not prepare an individual to discover the world that the Upper-Echelon does not want you to RE-Discover. Not discover. Dollars to donuts all of the free energy and more efficient and low cost anything is already discovered and buried.

[@janebook294]

RECENTLY IT CAME TO LIGHT THAT CRUDE CELL PHONE TECH WAS AVAILABLE DURING WW2 AND FM RADIO WAS AVAILABLE FOR DECADES BEFORE ITS INTRODUCTION AS TOO MANY OF THE GOOD OLD BOYS WOULD HAVE LOST HEIR SHIRTS HAD IT BEEN INTRODUCED !!! I AM SURE THIS IS THEY STORY WITH MANY THINGS AND EVEN MORE PENDING !!!!

[@aniyahlyszt3531]

@@janebook294 Take your finger off the caps lock and go check out Adam Ruins Everything, if you're unfamiliar. It has lots of information about such topics, and it's very entertaining and upbeat to watch. You may enjoy!

[@TheCarnivoreSoprano]

Yes

[@markbowman5515]

People have to realize...you're gonna be good enough for one student...one inspiration

[@zinebbettayeb9047]

I'm 38 years old, and I'd like to become an English teacher in a couple of years, this talk is really inspiring me.

[@TheCarnivoreSoprano]

It's been a couple years. Are you a teacher now

[@infjpodcasts]

✨

[@John-wf9md]

I watch Ted talks almost every morning while getting ready for work, and on most of my breaks. This video is the first one that made me cry. You can feel her passion and love for teaching.. incredible 👏👏👏👏👏

[@jaylichty]

There are great lessons here for all teachers and students alike! Wish I had had a teacher like Tawana Weicker!

[@heatherrenea6014]

Jay Lichty She was my teacher! And she was fabulous!

[@sierasteil8092]

the best teacher i ever had so far would take a random youtube video he found and create it into and english assignment

[@hyderflayer]

*an i assume u failed

[@klys2608]

KospiriT lmao a single mistake doesn’t make you fail.

[@babyplum2837]

Don't judge people

[@margybernard]

Siera Steil, I am an English teacher. I used to teach using films. Oh, the thought provoking discussion that would ensue, leading to research and writing assignments were amazing, as well as further reading. Both the students and I enjoyed our learning experiences until I was forbidden to teach. Now, script, drill and kill are the trends. Nationwide! 😢

[@margybernard]

@Kevdawg Sutton III% Pro Gun-Rights Activist sarcasm.🙃 Teaching was replaced by test prep (drilling).

[@jmr4791]

Just watched a little of the video but had to put this out there. I'm sick of people (including teachers) thinking that it's a teacher's job to be fun and entertaining. Sometimes learning isn't fun, it's work. This is why we're turning out kids who can't deal with holding a job.

[@guayabita27able]

I suggest continue watching it, and there is an important turning point at the end.

[@RMoore713ify]

WRONG. We learn better when we are having fun. We are much more effective at work when we are having fun. The 1950s called. They want your mentality back.

[@corriewds]

So down to earth and such a BIG message!

[@onceuponanexploration6048]

This is bulls--t. She figured out she was better off founding a biofuel company than living on the poverty wages of teaching. The end.

[@nikkicas260]

Thank you

[@sexywildlad]

The combination of her articulate, carefully-chosen wording and Southern accent blows me away :O

[@DS-pj3hu]

Modus Operandi i

[@natalieeuley1734]

Going to a southern research university, I experienced this alllll the time. It's a shame it's not normalized

[@coffeewithkofi9985]

Victim of too many steterotypes of poorly educated Southern accenters.

[@heyheyhey40]

Your world view is extreemly flawed if you think that a southern accent equates to a lack of intelligence. And quite arrogant too since you feel that your accent is superior.

[@kseventytwo]

Joe T or maybe they just haven’t met or seen in media a well spoken southern person

[@ZemplinTemplar]

Smart, witty, gutsy lady. Loved this talk !

[@tracypompei]

All teachers can be when they are taught and given the passion, humanity, and ownership that someone gave to her.

[@tawana7480]

Hello Tracy, our high school principal and administrators are very supportive and gave teachers the freedom to go beyond the issued state text books. Plus, I had some great teacher role modes when I was in school and during my own teaching. Plus, by being super transparent by putting my curriculum online for students and parents, it kept me on my toes, held me accountable. Plus, students and parents often had the best advice for engaging lessons.

[@tracypompei]

Going beyond is all about choices and freedom to explore, just like learning is. HM....this is a great example and I wish all schools could see this. Great job. Thank you so much for sharing this inspiring nugget!

[@guayabita27able]

And it would be more doable if the states regulations and law makers update the dated curriculum and get rid of standardized tests which cost tons of money. Give more opportunities to be creative within the curriculum rather than parallel extra school programs. The changes have to start at the top of the education system instead of blaming teachers for not being passionate and creative,

[@hankwang2951]

Her passion sends a chill down to my spine!

[@sailorpandora7787]

"Are you the theacher whose car smells like french fries?" Cracked me up 😂 Honestly tho, I'm 10min into her talk and I'm just impressed. You can feel through her talk how passionate she is about what she says. Her students are some lucky ones!

[@sailmonkeyflying8641]

It's when the community (parents and businesses) take initiative to help the students and teachers, then you have a great education experience. It's "takes a village to raise..."

[@firapuroki4571]

Spotlight?

[@VV-uu8tq]

I wish I had a teacher like you, thank you for being there for some of the people around you!

[@terbrylewis6400]

9:09-9:28 As a teacher, that is VERY true!

[@eephilosophy]

Hi Ms. Weicker. This is exactly what I want to do when I finish my "teaching" career this summer. I want to encourage engineering technology teacher to become "Side Hustle" entrepreneurs so they can become better teachers and redesign the educational curriculum at the colleague level. I believe every engineering student should be able to produce something productive/marketable about the time they graduate. I am starting with vegetable based soap products, but hopefully will move into other products and services. Congratulations on your success and I enjoyed your story.

[@Maxigorito]

Tawana, I'm French. I teach ESL. Your stuff is awesome. Thanks! I mean amazing, like, "ouh la la":)

[@hoorano]

This is true education! Govt legislators, are you listening, watching, and learning?

[@bruins6699]

T Hirano no they are not.

[@wellingtonaviationchannel634]

The sad part is that they probably are

[@dixie0625]

True educators cost money, which is currently being thrown at the bureaucratic administrative 9 to 3 sector in most districts. Unless teachers start being paid even as little as 50% of the 6-figure salaries that the talking heads who "manage people" are being paid, education will not change for the better. I just quit teaching and am making 70% of what I earned as a year 8 teacher with triple majors on unemployment. So sad!

[@DaveZiffer]

This is a very enticing idea and it sure is more fun than hitting the books, but there is a terrible price. The problem is that the vast majority of problems cannot be solved using a hands-on approach, because the human mind cannot intuit the solutions to most problems. Most problems must still be solved via rigorous analysis and careful design. I work in the IT industry, which for the past 15 years or so has been gripped by an ideology called "Agile", whose core tenet is that you can design complex software systems via hands-on trial and error. The problem is that it doesn't work, or rather the software doesn't work. Yes you can build a system that "works" on a good day when everything goes exactly right, but you cannot create systems that survive the rigors of real-world disruptions or even the complexities of long-term normal operations. Students should have a mixture of theoretical and hands-on curricula to break things up, but if we imagine that schools can dispense with the hard cerebral work we will be sending our graduating sheep into the lions' den.

[@guayabita27able]

Completely agree, this is a cute story, kids would love it, but the reality out there is another issue 😅

[@thebeck1012]

I barely made it through mine a lot of my teachers were "available" every year yet when you needed help they would just get annoyed when I personally have kids I am homeschooling them and making sure they get hands-on with things for example if he or she develops an interest in cars or something I'll either teach them with hands-on work with the car we have at home OR see if I can find a class he can attend for subjects such as histroy I'll take them through musems and stuff and run them through everything so it has more of an impace on them

[@nevenatanaskovic3128]

I want to quit, I'm such an energetic person, but teaching drains every atom of energy out of me.

[@RowantarotBlogspot]

Do it, it's the best thing I ever did.

[@amandamurray693]

Amazing inspirational teacher!

[@di-ot4pq]

Exhibition of personal knowledge, skills and interests. From 16.13 to the end my favorite part.

[@joshfritz5345]

oh my god i wish she was my english teacher...

[@warhorseworks7181]

Hey Josh. If you're still in school, you could offer to help your teachers with creative ideas. In fact, I asked my students to evaluate my English lesson plans before and during the "lessons." And if we all decided my approach was weak, we pivoted right then and there. I'd stop and take a better solution or idea from students. I let them find texts, videos, material to use--but of course, we censored it for school use. You can encourage and support your teachers. Lots of them will appreciate it!

[@joshfritz5345]

Warhorse Solutions I've finished high school and I can't really afford collage at the moment, so I'm working two jobs until I have some money saved up. I'm also not really sure if collage is the right choice for me. There will always be people who say that everyone should go to college, but there's more collage graduates than jobs for those graduates right now, and I don't want to go into debt without a garenteed payout at the end.

[@warhorseworks7181]

Yes, you are smart to not go into debt without a payout. You can gain lots of real world experience working; keep learning about your interests, and technical school or community college can offer a easier way to explore learning. If you discover you need a 4 year degree to attain your career goals, or you discover loads of money to enable to you live the "dorm college life," then ok. But you're right that many degrees don't prepare students for available jobs and they have big debt. I hope you find your passion, so be on the lookout for "work" that stirs your soul.

[@joshfritz5345]

well landscaping and working at a machine shop aren't exactly my dream jobs, but at least i'm not going into debt. anyways, thanks for this talk, i appreciate it. have a nice day.

[@yokyu2lea]

You can go to another country where studying is not that expensive.

[@herstory1012]

Thank you for this inspiration!!!

[@royalmaster203]

good talk, great presentation

[@jeffw1267]

I think it's fair to tell the students at the outset that being a good student is hard work. Then you teach them memory techniques so they don't have to devote their lives to schoolwork. I had exactly two teachers mention mnemonics during my twelve years of school, and each of them only did it once. Teach the kids how to learn and how to take effective notes, and they'll do better on average.

[@carlomagnosanchonoriega9015]

Very interesting this topic, new strategies and techniques thank you for sharing.

[@Operation40]

Outstanding view of reality.

[@simarjitkaur3411]

Brilliant talk and brilliant use of education and learning!!!!!

[@jasminehuynh5461]

Very inspirational. Really could have used a teacher like you.

[@kathieperry1210]

Great information. Real world teaching for 21st Century

[@scottm8579]

Very good TED talk. I wish all teachers did this.

[@alexandeon]

Reading Riting Rithmatic

[@cy334]

was looking for someone to "rite" that down :) xD

[@SKGOStudios]

and Republicanism

[@cdsersd2d]

"Riting" is spelt in Englesh "riding". Ima colledge gradueit.

[@thatguynicky1979]

stop stop, youz guys are all rong!

[@perditusthornatus2718]

What about Rocial Rudies or Ristory?

[@SummerLilyfy]

I liked this video simply because she is broadening categories and questioning theories!

[@abedmezani8061]

So useful my teacher , I think all teachers need this great lesson I'm proud of you Being a member of ted x ......hope one day meet you and teach me ....good luck

[@MiriamPrell]

KEY: "I live [work] in a community that embraces change..." I have no doubt that the community I work in embraces change, but who's making decisions about what's best for students so they're ready for the real world? It's not always teachers who are entrusted to make the change so desperately needed in the system but those in power-- those not connected to students on a daily basis.

[@camman6912]

If only all teachers were like her

[@Munchkin.Of.Pern09]

Funnily enough, my Philosophy Class is continuing watching The Matrix tomorrow. We’re studying it for its Epistemological and Metaphysical value.

[@qibingsia9212]

during my secondary years, I met the best physics teacher ever, he did the "extra"curricular content, most of my friends found it weird and "not" real, guess what he is teaching quantum mechanics and I am studying overseas on the weird stuff he introduced to me, I am sincerely indebted to his "extra"curricular content that changed my life forever, thanks.

[@ZONEDINN528]

Don't forget to apply that to... yourself. You're a part of the physical universe, too. Just... IMAGINE... the possibilities. Remember, and this is where you're just going to have to believe me (I know), the first part of my comment, it's experiential. Find the center, find your heart.

[@BethBurns68]

Just fabulous.

[@GhostLightPhilosophy]

Found myself in a hole of people slamming the education system and realised how warped the education system today is

[@briannicepianoworship8944]

Great lessons, but regarding " the matrix", , it was not Wakalsky brothers who wrote the screen play, but rather an African American Woman named Sophia Stewart

[@tawana7480]

Thanks for the info, Brian. When I got a copy of the Wachowski Brothers' screenplay, it indicated they were the original authors. I did not know about Sophia Stewart suing the Wachowski Brothers, Joel Silver, and Warner Brothers. Thank you for the alert and I have researched the case and hoping to find out more through continued research. I found the LA Times 2005 article by Kemp Powers, that "Her lawsuit claimed that the lucrative "Matrix" and "Terminator" film franchises were based on her ideas." Hollywood has a voracious appetite for home runs, and I hope if Sophia Steward did indeed provide the ideas for the movies, she gets compensation and credit.

[@firapuroki4571]

@@tawana7480 waw.

[@123Animemangalover]

Better than any English teacher I had

[@costanzapoma4045]

Love it

[@dreads44]

Would've loved her as my teacher. A great loss to education!

[@MusicVault101]

McDonald's changes their oil about once a week. The deep fryer holds about 5 gallons of oil. Do the math. That's not enough to fuel even a tiny fraction of the vehicles idling in their drive-thru at lunchtime.

[@FrankDad]

MusicVault101 yeah, but X amount of McD’s times 5 and that is a lot though

[@MusicVault101]

@@FrankDad but if you do the math. That's what, one to two thousand Vehicles per day, per MacDaddy, for an average of three minutes of idle time? (To be fair, I am guesstimating. So, I may be off by a couple hundred percent, one way or the other.) But when you account for it being only five gallons, per week, at seven to fourteen thousand Vehicles idling for an average of three minutes? It seems to me, you could save a lot more fuel, just by reducing the idle time of drive-through customers.

[@jiikcrjjiiikcrbalu4748]

I received

[@xiiguardian]

this should have been called "I founded a successful company.... oh yeah i was a teacher once"

[@rabeebibrat1805]

The starting music is so good. What's it called?

[@pennyschwenki5240]

True

[@jjramos5873]

Just love it so much

[@sirnimbus3498]

"Heisenberg" you're goddamn right!

[@ohmusicsweetmusic]

This sounds like a person who doesn't know what she wants to do with her life. Did I miss why she quit teaching? Ever notice that stories about good teaching are told by teachers who are no longer teaching. Why is that??

[@tawana7480]

You have a good point on missing why I quit teaching...I need to finish the story. I taught high school and college English for 15 years and was isolated from the real, changing world, while I was teaching Shakespeare, literature, grammar, and how to score higher on state exams and SAT tests. During this time, the world changed a lot, and I was not really understanding the "new" and evolving world that my students would face when they left my classroom. So when my biofuel and green chemistry project developed into a potential company, I quit teaching, I left it to see what my students' after-high-school and after-college-lives would encounter. I wanted to really understand what they would face--certain uncertainty, potential failure, new challenges, money issues, career choices... So I quit teaching, left a paycheck and health insurance behind at the age of 49 and jumped into their 21st century world. The first $5,000 I spent to start my company, I hired several of my former high school students to help me with graphic design work. I wanted to hire local students to demonstrate how talented young people are, regardless of age. I've continued to network with former students, and even had to pitch my WARHORSE products to them as they are managers and company owners themselves. Now, 4 1/2 years later, I've been immersed in a "world" that students will encounter--how to move forward at school, how to start a new business from the ground up and with no established network or a formal chemisty degree to support ag science exploration. I am self taught in the green chemistry field. I think when I go back in the classroom, I will be a much stronger teacher--all because I chose to take the leap from my safe classroom into the unknown--just like my highschool and college students had to do. Thanks for your point, as it reminds me the best part of my teaching journey has yet to be documented. I speak at my former highschool and at several universities, mosty to the bioufel and biomass energy classes and business classes, sharing my journey from teacher to struggling entrepreneur, which started at in my classroom and highschool. And, some of my former students are waiting to hear my journey to "failure" and what I have learned for the next stage of my journey.

[@wisepersonsay3142]

Congratulations on your courage and authenticity. Admitting I was very privileged to study at the elite private Christian school in Tokyo, my teachers of all levels of schooling were excellent. We were encouraged to debate, research and present at homeroom sessions from elementary level. We protested against some teachers who favoured some students. We learned what justice was pretty early in our childhood. We had native speakers from the USA to teach us English and culture. When we were at junior and senior high levels, uni professors came to teach us religions, humanities, and science. We often had guest speakers at school assemblies. Our teachers were always available after school to answer our questions. Our teachers were always studying and acquiring updated knowledge and information. We were encouraged to be unique and good at improving talent. When I went overseas to study at the uni level, I realized everything I had to learn in the uni was already taught during high school level at my alma mater. The uni was boring.

[@16nowhereman]

Not new. It's been done before and in some places it is still being done!

[@firapuroki4571]

And more places need to start doing it too

[@oliviatsi2324]

Oh what? But literature and poetic meters and such have value too. There's no sense in pushing that aside!

[@alekvillarreal3470]

Yes, if you have an interest in those or if it's related to your field. We definitely need a variety of subjects but how much becomes overwhelming and irrelevant?

[@FrankDad]

10:40, if you take this out of context, it is funny af.

[@gediosman6055]

THANKS

[@cluelessbuttrying5503]

"Teach without fear of failure" needs "Learn without fear of failure", but "failure" is not that scary. Starvation and homelessness are scary. To eliminate the "fear" we need UBI (Universal Basic Income). Listen to (and vote for) Andrew Yang. If you graduate (High School or College) and have 2 weeks to either get a paycheck or vacate your apartment, education is scary.

[@pamelatorres156]

I don't want to learn anymore. I hate having to learn because what school taught me was useless and I was conned and brainwashed into thinking grades mattered. Report cards never mattered.

[@amananwar7421]

Don't let schooling come in the way of your education.

[@myronsteinman1352]

Hmmm

[@hendrixgryspeerdt2085]

If you are you seriously advocating for biofuel you might want to do some research on the energy density and land required to produce it compared to other fuels.

[@davidarevalo6120]

She watched youtube videos back in 1997. I wonder how much else of her talk she made out!

[@todydn]

I did.not see this woman till the end I was listening but I wanted her to have behive hair but this is what we need in school so bad I would have payed so.mutch more attention with any kind of applied science

[@navneetchahal8307]

Ted talk is good

[@Rissa_1322]

Lana was already out when this video was posted so I'm not sure why she's referring to them as "brothers", unless this was somehow filmed in 2007

[@soupsoup8006]

Rissa maybe she didn’t know

[@EQuivalentTube2]

This lady is a badass.

[@thomasolson2806]

Wow! We need teachers like Ms. Weicker to flood the system

[@sharinaross1865]

Its a lot of teachers that want to quit.

[@bocoxgurl]

Great talk! Educate local.

[@tawana7480]

Thank you for the comment, Tonya. Since leaving the classroom and jumping into starting WARHORSE, I think I could be a better teacher now. While my little company may not survive--I do think I have a much better understanding of the "world" that high school and college students encounter. If I list the "skills" that students need--from my experience of staring a company and rubbing elbows in the world of entrepreneurship and biz... Have a work ethic Take responsibility for your mistakes Don't whine Take initiative to learn on your own Be honest Over the past 4 years of trying to grow a company, I do think this is true. These skills and character traits set students and people apart, and make them valuable.

[@bocoxgurl]

Aww. Your company is a great idea! Crossing my fingers that it survives. Students must be able to set themselves apart from the pack. Those who do more to understand the real world, will fare better in the long run.

[@tawana7480]

Thank you for the crossed fingers. But it's ok if my little company doesn't make it...just like in the classroom, knowledge comes from failure. I get to "fail"just like students should have the opportunity to fail, regroup, dig in again. Best to you.

[@MrWitherSkulls]

0:33 Thats a Boeing 787 not 727.

[@ErutaniaRose]

I wish more people like her were actually running schools...

[@noeoleole6911]

Did her husband follow her in all this path of uncertainty and confusion? After watching this video, I am just confused myself.

[@bigchuck696]

When your last name is Tryon. *dab*

[@arekkrolak6320]

no, you didn't hear anyone said wooo, becasue nobody said wooo :)

[@sociocyberneering]

B787

[@AndieBlack13]

THEOFILOS CHALDEZOS A B787?...I wasn't sure, but it certainly isn't that old triple-engine 727... and she calls herself a dedicated educator? Dedicated to what?...mis-information?, errors? did she do the research?, what other things did she get wrong?....how can our young people get their accurate info when our teachers can't even get it right?

[@user-nc7ki3cn4v]

I wish I were your student .

[@Rudypaolo]

And now she's a 100,000 dollars in debt ...

[@armstrongroger6893]

7

[@dilveensingh2806]

Fast Camera Watch Watching M People's Eydiate Smile Smile Full Smiles Olrite

[@bocoxgurl]

Interesting how this is the character of the 21st Century student. This stuff -- with the exception of digital literacy -- has been happening in middle and high school journalism classes since at least the late 1800s. Nothing new.

[@erickardiansyah7642]

So much hise ..quit perfaction to works ferstain seaint callent prenerships last derection

[@miroslavkrabec5386]

Haha Breaking Bad.

[@supportnetwork7005]

Do that in Mexico and the school will want all the money or will kick you out of the school for being a dangerous threat lol

[@ericclaeyborn8359]

That bio-fuel can give you a heart attack, even if it isn't real jet fuel out of a pump.

[@kareszt]

Start looking for a doll cheque.

[@_Michael_17]

Ummm lol that is a Boeing 787 not a 727 also there is a big difference between airline fuel and “used cooking oil “ gas lol

[@kathrynsimpson334]

Isn’t this tax fraud if your not making and using it on private property?

[@tawana7480]

I questioned this before I started making it. NC is one the few states where "An individual who produces biodiesel for use in that individual's private passenger vehicle is exempt from the state motor fuel excise tax. "(Reference North Carolina General Statutes 105-449.88)

[@kathrynsimpson334]

Tawana Weicker Oh okay! That’s what I was thinking about but didn’t know what states allowed it and what law made it so! Thank you :)

[@josephho1150]

Some guy made oil *Trump wants to **_know your location_*

[@TheShrededward]

A great example of what a teacher is NOT! She knew nothing about biofuels, but learned on the job. I'm guessing that none of that is on the curriculum. Honestly, most American teachers don't understand the basic job. You're supposed to teach stuff on the curriculum. She couldn't, so she quit.

[@sylviapeterson1843]

The nonchalant fine arguably spot because punch systematically grate down a nosy help. bewildered, symptomatic velvet