Teaching is a profession that can be tough and rewarding at the same time. While you are able to impact the lives of future generations, there is also a lot of preparation involved and also being flexible as unexpected things may come up. 

Todd Whittemore is a Special Education teacher at Altus High School. He is also the head boys basketball coach for the Bulldogs. He says that his decision to become a teacher was so that he could make a difference. 

“I try to be the teacher that I wished I had when I was a student,” Whittemore said. “Not only teaching the curriculum, but I also want them to know what love is and that they have a teacher that is there for them.”

Todd is in his second year at Altus. He has made previous stops along his teaching journey, including Woodward, Oklahoma, Johnson County High School in Tennessee, Volunteer High School in Tennessee, and Groves High School in Georgia. 

During his teaching career, Whittemore has been given various pieces of advice. But he says that there is one that he thinks has been the most important for him. 

“The best advice that I have ever received is this,” he said. “Start strict and you will gain their respect.”

There were a number of people that influenced his life as a student, but Todd had one teacher that he says helped him decide to become a teacher and coach.

“The person that made the biggest impact  on me becoming a teacher would have to be my college basketball coach Randy Unger,” he said. “He was a great guy and a great coach.”

Todd is married to his wife Robin and they have a 21 year old son Jackson. When Todd is not teaching, he enjoys spending time with his family and friends.