DEARBORN — Students of Fordson High School teacher Amira Kassem turn to her for guidance, not only for their writing skills, but for help with their everyday lives.

“She’s a friend. A lot of teachers are just teachers. She plays a role of parent away from home,” said Fordson senior Abbas Alawieh.

Kassem, who teaches advanced composition and language classes, received an Educator of the Year award from the Dearborn Schools PTSA at its annual Founders’ Day Dinner on February 22.

“She gave me a whole new way of thinking,” Alawieh said. “And I progressed so much as a writer.”

Kassem describes her teaching style as philosophy-oriented, boosted by an effort to learn from her students as she teaches them.

“The best teachers are those who are willing to learn,” she said.

Known for her fun, thought-provoking classes, Kassem said she tries to simply be herself with students, as someone who can relate to them.

“Many of them share the same type of values that I grew up with,” she said. “If you are who you are, it’s so much easier.”

Kassem was a Fordson student herself for two years, when her family moved to the U.S. in 1984. She returned to the school as a teacher in 1997.

“Her class is one class that you actually want  to go to,” said senior Amanda Beydoun. “She’s fun. She cracks jokes.”

Kassem said humor is often forgotten when teaching writing.

“Wit and sarcasm are one of language’s most essential tools,” she said.  “We poke fun at each other sometimes… Usually a joke will help people relax.”

“They never complain that they were bored… and I have fun every day.”

But the fun only comes after an air of discipline is established, she said. And she is known as a hard grader.

“If we’re not disciplined, we cannot do anything… Most of them, for the first few weeks, they hate me.”

But grades end up meaning little, she said, after building relationships that make the students want to impress her and live up to her expectations.

“Even though it’s challenging, it’s very enjoyable,” said Hayatt Bakri, a student in Kassem’s Advanced Placement English class.

Even the students who don’t do well, who lack motivation, Kassem said, are often enriched by her classes.

“I make it about a lot more than the grade. Even the ones who fail respond to that. Even the few [who fail], they know that I tried my very best not to fail them.”

“She’s able to make the best out of every student,” said senior Nada Hammoud.

Kassem said that in all her years teaching at Fordson, she’s never sent a student to the office.

She relishes the ability of a teacher to influence even the toughest students, to “sway them and keep them successful.”

“Teachers have so much power and many of them feel so powerless sometimes. If you, in teaching, cannot change people for the better, you’re in the wrong profession,” she said.

“You see the best in kids, and you communicate with them.”

“She accepts you for who you are,” said senior Sumaia Khouryzat.

“She’s someone you can always turn to,” said Zainab Farhat, also a senior AP English student.

Each year, students and faculty of Dearborn schools are invited to nominate one teacher for the award. Letters are written by teachers and the principals in favor of each chosen teacher, and nominations are reviewed by an outside, independent committee.

This year, seven schools submitted nominations.

Kassem said the award was one of many that she receives frequently from the students themselves every year, in the form of hand crafted prizes, gifts and chocolate.

The last three PTSA Educators of the Year were all teachers from Fordson High School.

Kassem said the school’s students are what make Fordson special, putting teachers in a position to do well.

“I feel I have some of the best kids I’ve ever known… If you say you’re thirsty, there’s 100 bottles of water in front of you. If you say you have a flat tire, they skip to fix your tire.”

Khouryzat said Kassem puts all her passion into her students, expecting nothing in return.

“She gives and gives and she doesn’t expect to get back.”

Kassem insists the satisfaction she gets out of having an affect on kids is plenty to get back.

“I get a lot more than I invest,” she said.