Clearwater, Florida -- A quick glance around the classroom at Guardian Angels Catholic School in Clearwater, and it's clear to see someone here likes fish.
That someone is second grade teacher Christine Mertens. Mertens grew up in Minnesota and says she never saw fish like the ones we have here in the Bay area.
In her classroom, there are bright colored fish just about everywhere and there’s even a cool fish tank.
Mertens says, “I don't know what it is, but I guess I have adopted that I like fish. I guess I like the bright colors of the fish.
Mertens has been at Guardian Angels for nearly a decade, but has been teaching 30 years. She has taught just about everything, from swimming to arts and craft and even ballroom dancing.
But it was the classroom where Mertens felt really in step with her students. Mertens says she became a teacher because she wanted to make a difference.
8-year-old Shannon says Mrs. Mertens is pretty special. The second grader says, “She's really challenging and nice and helps us learn.”
William says he enjoys the class because, “You never know what's going to happen the next day… she makes learning enjoyable and she makes it a little bit more of a challenge for us.”
Mrs. Mertens challenges her students to do well in the classroom, but even at this age she tells them they can make a difference in the world. In fact, she recently read a story to her class about a rainbow fish that gives of itself to help others.
“We always try and show the kids walk the walk not just talk it so with the rainbow fish we talked about how they had to help others and what that means to be a good Christian."
Mertens says she couldn't imagine doing anything else.
"I like my job. I like coming in the morning. You don't have to push me out the door to get me here. It's fun. There is never a day that’s the same and the kids and parents are fantastic. It’s a great school to work for and there isn’t anything that I don’t like about it."
The students in her class were awesome. Teaching Assistant Laurie Kerekes took some great photos photojournalist Ben Reiff and me during our visit:
Ginger Gadsden, Tampa Bay's 10 News