South Carolina's State Teacher of the Year, Jason Fulmer, was the guest speaker at this year's Teacher Forum Reception for Chesterfield County's first- and second-year teachers.

Fulmer, who is in his fourth year of teaching, sympathized with Chesterfield County's new teachers about the stresses of starting their careers.

"Your lives as teachers will be full of successes and challenges," Fulmer said. "I don't know why all of the challenges are presented in the first year, though."

Fulmer talked about his first few years of teaching and dealing with students and teachers.

"There are a lot of people who are going to tell you why you can't, or shouldn't, or won't," Fulmer said. "That's why you'll cherish those people who tell you that you can."

Fulmer stressed for the teachers to remember to have fun with their classes and make learning an enjoyable thing for their students.

"You don't know where your students are coming from," he said. "You may be the only positive reinforcement these kids see. Teach them that attitude is a small thing that can make a big difference."

Fulmer said the teachers will always have the No Child Left Behind rules and budget constraints to worry about, but they will only have one year to make a positive impact on a child's life.

"Teaching is not a job that provides instant gratification," Fulmer said. "It may be years later before you realize the impact you've had on a child. But once you do, it makes all the time spent in a classroom worth it."

Fulmer made his remarks to a room full of Chesterfield County teachers, administrators and district personnel. Eighteen of those present were first- or second-year teachers.

Chesterfield County's Teacher Forum allows experienced teachers to mentor teachers entering into their first years in the classroom.

"The Teacher Forum was set up to let our young teachers know that they are not in this alone," Teacher Forum co-chair and last year's District Teacher of the Year, Malia Dunn, said. "It gives us a chance to get together and hear the problems that first- or second-year teachers are having and address them. The first two years of teaching are by far the toughest, so we want to be there to help them through it. Our goal is to keep our teachers."

Following Fulmer's remarks on Monday, Chesterfield County's newest teachers met with their mentors and several school board members and discussed how things could be better in their classrooms.

The Teacher Forum reception was at Green River Country Club in Chesterfield.