Why I teach: Mary Louise Bean

Mark Walters was in my first ninth-grade English class at Millcreek Junior High. I watched him draw pictures of cars every day. One day I asked him why he always drew cars, and he said it was because when he grew up he wanted to be an auto designer. Sensing a need for direction, I researched the head designer at Ford Motor Co. in Detroit and presented Mark with a special assignment to write this gentleman for advice, recommendations for classes, schools, etc. Mark wrote the letter. Recently, an art designer for the Detroit News called me because he had seen the Dodge Tomahawk — designed by Mark. He visited with Mark and asked him how he got interested in design. Mark said it went back to his junior high English teacher, Mrs. Bean. A photographer came to school for a picture to accompany the article, which appeared in the Detroit News. Mark Walters lived his dream.— Mary Louise Bean, Viewmont High