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The energy in Buford\u2019s classroom is very obvious. He\u2019s the kind of teacher who doesn\u2019t just talk at his students; he draws them in with his energy, his expertise, and his genuine care for their success. But his role doesn\u2019t stop at being an instructor. Buford is the person students can rely on when things get tough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He\u2019s the teacher who steps in when another instructor is absent, or when a class needs extra hands. He\u2019s the mentor who goes the extra mile to ensure no student falls behind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI once had to fill in for our welding instructor, who was having some medical issues. One of the welding students asked me to look at his weld on a particular project and give him some feedback,\u201d Buford remembered. \u201cWhen I pointed out that it looked like he stopped his weld and then picked it back up again, he was surprised that I noticed. And that was when I told him that I had several years of experience as a welder. He never had any questions after that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Buford\u2019s expertise and generosity don\u2019t stop at the shop. He\u2019s known for stepping up behind the scenes, quietly helping students in need. \u201cAs I\u2019ve been teaching here, there have been several students who had the drive and skill to exceed but lacked funds for various school-related items,\u201d he explained. \u201cHelping out where I can is a no-brainer for me. We all need help at some point in our lives, and I\u2019m repaying those who helped me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If a student is struggling to pay for books or Occupational Safety and Health Adminstration training, he\u2019ll quietly take care of it, ensuring they don\u2019t have to worry about the financial burden. \u201cIf I hear that a student is struggling, I\u2019ll step in and help without them even knowing,\u201d he said modestly. \u201cIt\u2019s important to me that they feel supported, not just in the classroom but in every way.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Buford believes wholeheartedly that everyone deserves a chance to succeed. This mindset was shaped during his years volunteering for Court Appointed Special Advocates in Williamson County, where he worked with at-risk youth. \u201cIt really opened up my eyes,\u201d he reflected. \u201cPeople blame the kids for their bad behavior, but sometimes it\u2019s the parents\u2019 negative behavior. I had two boys at Fairview High School who were good kids, but whenever I went for a visit, I could look at their grades and attendance and tell you when their dad was out of jail. Whenever he was home, their attendance and grades would suffer, and when he was incarcerated, everything would improve. This cycle repeated itself until the boys eventually graduated high school and went to college.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n For Buford, the lesson was clear. \u201cI\u2019ve learned not to be hasty with labeling a kid \u2018bad,\u2019\u201d he said thoughtfully. \u201cSometimes, they just need someone to listen and not judge them. That\u2019s what I try to do with my students here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n His nurturing approach goes beyond the classroom. \u201cI tell all of our students that we\u2019re not just teaching you a particular skill set, but life skills,\u201d he said. \u201cOur Worker Characteristics options teach them about organization, respect for others, how to communicate, have a positive attitude, how to cooperate and get along with others, and more. All 10 essential elements prepare them for life beyond TCAT.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n For Buford, the most rewarding part of teaching is seeing his students achieve their goals. \u201cHands down, the most rewarding part of being an educator is seeing that student walk across the stage in their cap and gown, receive their diploma, shake my hand, and walk off with the biggest grin on their face!\u201d he said with pride. \u201cThat never gets old!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s clear that for Buford, teaching is more than just a job \u2014 it\u2019s a lifelong commitment to making the world a better place, one student at a time. GN<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" WHEN DALE Buford walks into a classroom at the Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) in Lebanon, it\u2019s clear that this isn\u2019t just another day at work. For Buford, teaching isn\u2019t simply about sharing technical knowledge \u2014 it\u2019s about changing lives, one student at a time. His dedication goes beyond lessons in blueprint reading or […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":22568,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-22565","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-stories"],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/goodnewsmags.com\/lebanon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2025\/04\/Story-1-photo1-3-1024x683.jpg\")