After the long hiatus, Pausing with a Panther is back and Whitmer’s very own Social Studies department teacher, Mr. Jason Schreiner is our most recent Panther that pause was pushed and a nice person to person chat allowed us to learn a little more about this distinguished human and educator.
Mr. Schreiner grew up in West Toledo in the TPS district and as a kid he had a good balance of athletics and academics, which was always a priority. He was even a Boy Scouts which he followed through all the way to Eagle Scout. He describes himself as a good kid and followed the rules about 90% of the time.
In his primary years he got his education at Longfellow Elementary where he attended kindergarten through 6th grade. Then he went to DeVeaux for middle school, before it was a TPS elementary school, for 7th and 8th grade. He attended Roy C. Start High School and graduated in the class of 1999. After graduating from the University of Toledo with a bachelors in history and a masters degree in education he has spent the last 22 years in the classroom here at Whitmer, with one year as a truancy officer.
As a kid Schreiner never had a set in stone dream job, he wanted to do lots of different things, and definitely something to do in government. The one thing that stuck with him since he was a kid was that he always wanted a job where he could wear a tie everyday, and to this day he still does.
He wanted to be a teacher because really enjoys social studies and working with kids, plus the summers off are a nice perk. He enjoyed history and decided social studies was natural.
If you could teach any other subject what would it be?
“I would love to maybe teach in the English department. If I was certified, math I suppose
But I think science has the best opportunities to do hands-on learning.”
What motivates you to work hard?
“Family. I have a family that depends on me. At the end of the day this is a job, so I have to come here everyday. I rely on money and health care, but the reality is I can do anything to make money, but I might as well do something I enjoy doing. I don’t want to say it doesn’t feel like work, but it feels like I go to school everyday.”
What is your biggest accomplishment?
“As a teacher, raising good kids. Although when I was younger I thought graduating high school was a big thing. Not because it was a question whether I graduate, that was a definite, but at my 4 years I was at Start we had someone die in my graduating class every single year. We had 5 kids die so it kind of felt like that was an accomplishment like, ‘man I have people here that are not making it through’. Going to UT I was going to graduate, I was paying for it so that wasn’t even a question. I actually think graduating high school is a big accomplishment because there’s so many turns you can make and so many things you’re going through, especially you, with social media and it’s just a very different life that you guys have than what I had.”
What is something you wish you could tell your past self when you first started teaching?
“Slow things down. Break it down into chunks. At the very least try and stay ahead of the students, you know they’re learning for the first time. Even though I’ve done it 20 some times, they’re learning it for the first time so break it down. Don’t expect them to know what you know.
A student actually told me ‘Mr. Schreiner you don’t have to use all the materials,’ that advice- that still sticks with me.”
What is your favorite season?
“I mean summer you know you’re out of school, but I’m really starting to enjoy fall you know when we have a real one. So I would say the fall.”
If you were to compare yourself to an animal what would you be and why?
“I think I would like to be a wise old owl that just kind of sits back and listens, but I could also be a blue jay and I’m just squawking and annoying people. I would definitely be a bird.”
Cats or Dogs?
“Definitely a dog person. Cats are dumb. And evil.”
What actor would you want to play as yourself in a movie about yourself?
“I would probably go with Denzel Washington. Or Mike [Jonathan Banks]from “Better call Saul.”
If you could have dinner with anyone who would it be?
“I would like to invite Harry Truman, Abraham Lincon, and … John Adams.
I’m gonna go with 3 presidents from different time periods and I’m just going to listen. I’m gonna let them talk and I’m just gonna listen.”