Some couples just can’t get along. They bicker, they argue, they snicker, they tease. They can barely be in the same room together, let alone work together. This is definitely not the case with the Mansfields, who can be seen working harmoniously each day in the east 200 building.
Room 236 is large and cluttered with projects. Fabrication and Design Teachers Monte and Terry Mansfield teach students how to build, sculpt, and create structures made from all types of materials. The life-size looking projects make the room appear like something out of a storybook. Miniature houses and other decorations made by students in the past give the room a fairytale ambience. But, it’s the married Mansfields who give this room its special magic.
He was a graduate student, working on his Master’s Degree in Fine Arts at the University of Hawaii. She was just out of college, having graduated with a Bachelor’s in Nursing. They met in Hawaii, have worked together since they were married, and have now taught together at UC High for five years. “I grew up fabricating,” Mrs. Mansfield explained, “But he [Mr. Mansfield] didn’t know that I really knew much about it, until one day he was given a big project to work on. Another employee was assigned to it, but when this employee showed up one day incapable of working, he was fired, and Mr. M needed help. I said, ‘Well I’ll help you,’ and from then on, we have worked together.”
Through teaching Fabrication and Design, the couple is able to educate students about the real world and expose them to many necessary traits one must have to work in the real world. “We teach them [about] corporate teamwork, how to meet expectations, professionalism, and the importance of being responsible to a team,” Mrs. Mansfield said. “For instance, they can’t build their project and then leave a mess.” Mr. Mansfield added, “We get students ready for college and their future careers by teaching them problem solving and emphasizing time use as well.”
The obvious questions remains: What is it like to work and teach with one’s spouse? According to the Knoxville News website, “[…M]any couples choose to avoid [working professionally together]. The results can be devastating – an end to the business, or worse, the end of the marriage” (knoxnews.com). For Mr. and Mrs. Mansfield, however, these are non-issues. “We have different styles, sure, but we’ve learned to tolerate each other’s ways. It’s just so great working with someone who really gets you. He gets me, he gives me my room to work, and we yield to each other’s tendencies so we don’t have to force our ideas on each other,” Mrs. Mansfield said.
Mr. Mansfield agreed. “We’re good compliments to each other. Different people have different approaches to art and sculpting and fabrication, and our ideas together lead to students gaining a fuller experience,” he said, adding, “It’s like a dance, or yin and yang.” The Asian philosophy reference implies that the husband and wife create balance, different ways of working and thought can help students learn, and they take turns leading their classes.
Of course, the Mansfields have their little spouts, but they are usually quite harmless. “Sometimes we don’t know who will start the lesson, so we do rock-paper-scissors to decide,” Mrs. Mansfield said. She added, “As any married couple, we cut each other off, and we frustrate each other sometimes. You can’t be married without frustrating your spouse.” Freshman Eillen Vedar said, “They have their little ‘married fights,’ but both want us to work and have fun.” Having the same goal allows the couple to enjoy their dual-teaching and work together enjoyably.
The idea of working together never seemed preposterous to the Mansfields. However, teaching in a high school – now that was questionable. “I could have seen us working together, but I wouldn’t have seen us working together in a high school,” Mrs. Mansfield explained. “He’s used to a professional level of teaching, which sometimes makes him more of a perfectionist than younger students might be able to handle, but his impact on students is very positive, for he makes himself available to them and seeks to know and work with the kids.”
Having a married couple as teachers provides many benefits to students. Senior Andrew Scofield said, “You get different experiences [from each], and learn a variation of ideas.” Vedar added, “They have different tastes, so it’s nice getting feedback from both of them.”
Although many couples wouldn’t dream of working together in a professional sense, it sure seems to work for Mr. and Mrs. Mansfield. Their vibrant personalities allow them to give students unique experiences in Fabrication and Design, as well as pursue their passions in sculpting and fabricating alongside each other.