Teacher of the Year Award nominee shares his 36 years in education

'Teaching is not a career, but a vocation'

MOSES LAKE — Teacher of the Year Award nominee Craig Dorsing views his 36 years in education not as a career, but a vocation in which his service to students is about helping them to develop socially and emotionally as well as academically.

"He is dedicated and shows a great deal of concern for his students," Knolls Vista Principal Mike Riggs said of Dorsing who currently teaches at the elementary school.

And that concern extends beyond regular school hours.

Every morning at 7 a.m., with suit and tie, Dorsing is ready to begin a new day.

It may begin by adding last minute touches to his teaching plan, finishing up those few papers left to grade, or lending a helping hand to others in his community.

"My success as a teacher is determined by how they (students) do later in life," Dorsing said.

Glancing around Dorsing's class room, a small quote on the wall behind the podium gives some insight into his teaching philosophy: 'this isn't Burger King and you can't have it your way.'

"This is not a career, but a vocation and I have high expectations of my students," he said.

What Dorsing hopes for his students is that by being in his class they will find themselves; who they really are and not be afraid to share that with others.

"I once had a boy in class who was the shy type and didn't talk much in class so I remembered back to a worksheet the kids had filled out about their interests and knew he liked horses, " he said. "So one day in class I just started asking him how he liked the horses at the fair and I got him to laugh and open up a bit."

"He's really funny and plays a lot of jokes," fourth-grade student Lynae Brown said.

But their have also been moments of sorrow.

"I remember an eighth-grade boy who didn't have a lot of friends or support at home and I poured everything I could into him, but I couldn't reach him," he said. "It was then that I realized I couldn't be everything to everyone."

When it comes to regaining strength to keep encouraging students and persevering through tough times, Dorsing likens himself to a rain barrel that just "needs filled up every once in awhile."

"I want to be someone students can come and share their concerns with, laugh, cry or talk about what's going on at home, but eventually that barrel gets empty and needs refilled," he said.

And there are not just one or two things Dorsing occupies his time with to keep his "barrel full," so to speak, but multiple hobbies.

"I fish, hunt, farm, build houses, paint and of course every once in awhile eat things that aren't healthy for me," he said with a chuckle.

Since the age of nine Dorsing knew he wanted to be a teacher and has considered his presence in the class room as a way of serving others.

Born and raised in the Willamette Valley in Sweet Home, Ore. to the son of a logger, Dorsing paid his way through college working in the lumber industry and later attended Central Washington University where he received his bachelor's in music education.

But music is not what he would teach.

"My only interest was to teach music, but every time I applied for a position I was turned down and to this day I have yet to teach a music class," he said.

When asked if this had been a disappointment to him he replied, "No, not really because I believe I am truly where God wants me to be; where I can teach values by example."

As for retirement, Dorsing plans on staying in the class room indefinitely.

"I will keep teaching until I perceive that I am less than what I need to be as an educator," he said.

Dorsing has been in the Moses Lake School District for 27 years and has also taught at Moses Lake High School and Peninsula Elementary.

"He has high expectations for his students and challenges them to the next level," Assistant Superintendent for the MLSD Michelle Price said.