Martin Vickers, a graduate of Crestview High School in Okaloosa County, Florida, has returned to his alma mater as a teacher after nearly two decades. Vickers initially struggled to find a teaching position after college due to limited openings for inexperienced educators at the time. He worked as an editor before receiving his first teaching offer in Walton County in 2009.
“I never was fully satisfied sitting behind a desk all day…I really wanted to work with young people. I’d been influenced by so many wonderful teachers, and I wanted to have the same influence,” said Vickers.
While teaching middle school in Walton County, he prioritized supporting students individually. For one deaf student, Vickers learned basic American Sign Language to better communicate outside regular class hours. “We had an interpreter, but there were times—maybe before or after school—the interpreter was not there, and I wanted to communicate with the student. So, I started going home at night and studying American Sign Language. I never got great, but I got to where I could hold a basic conversation…there has always been a desire to find ways outside of my norm to help people,” he explained.
After eight years in Walton County, Vickers moved back closer to home and eventually began teaching at Crestview High School again. He noticed an increase in English language learners at the school and decided to improve his Spanish skills using online tools like Duolingo so he could better connect with students without relying solely on translation apps.
When two of the school’s three Spanish teachers retired simultaneously, Vickers proposed transitioning from English teacher to Spanish teacher—a move supported by his administration. He took additional courses at Northwest Florida State College and read novels in Spanish until he passed the subject area exam needed for certification.
Now in his third year teaching Spanish at Crestview High School, Vickers works alongside Leah Merritt—his own former Spanish teacher. “Ms. Merritt was an amazing teacher then. She is an amazing person now. I am so thankful for the opportunity (to work alongside her),” said Vickers.
Throughout sixteen years of teaching across different counties and subjects, Vickers’ commitment has remained: continuing personal growth and building stronger connections with students through learning new skills such as additional languages.
He encourages other educators statewide to consider learning another language as well: “If there has even been an interest (in studying another language), the students who speak another language are super encouraged by anything you can pick up.”
The Florida Education Association is seeking nominations for stories about impactful educators across the state who make a difference for their students and colleagues.
