Amazing, Dedicated, Talented Teachers
Two years ago when my oldest daughters started second grade, I wrote a post on this blog (Teachers Excel; District Fails) about their first day of school at Pathfinder K-8 and the two wonderful teachers (Lisa DeBurle and Missa Marmalstein) they met that day.
Since today marks the last day Emma and Claire will be in their classes, I want to share my daughters' thoughts on what these two years have meant to them.
· It's a Spider's World by Claire
· My Thanks to Lisa by Emma
While I obviously think Lisa and Missa are exceptional teachers, I also believe there are many, many amazing, dedicated, talented teachers in Seattle Public Schools. They deserve our support and help as they struggle with the challenge of how to meet accountability requirements while keeping joy and creativity in the teaching and learning process.
Anyone else have teacher kudos to call out?
Since today marks the last day Emma and Claire will be in their classes, I want to share my daughters' thoughts on what these two years have meant to them.
· It's a Spider's World by Claire
· My Thanks to Lisa by Emma
While I obviously think Lisa and Missa are exceptional teachers, I also believe there are many, many amazing, dedicated, talented teachers in Seattle Public Schools. They deserve our support and help as they struggle with the challenge of how to meet accountability requirements while keeping joy and creativity in the teaching and learning process.
Anyone else have teacher kudos to call out?
Comments
From science to beginning reading to art to culturally aware social studies, Ms. Ford made every day of school special, all the while challenging them to be their best.
When my daughter's papers came back with "You can do better" it was true. When they said, "This is good work," it was. She gave her extra challenge work instead of following a set plan, and worked on the most basic skills with a young girl who had only recently arrived in the country, and so young she often fell asleep in class.
She did it without ever resorting to yelling or letting the class get out of control. And she had tears in her eyes on the last day of school as the kids waved goodbye.
We still go back and visit this amazing teacher and hold her up as the standard by which we judge other teachers our daughter has had.
This is Ms. Ford's second career, but I hope she puts in many more years launching children into their school years. Any who cross her path will benefit.
It is teachers like this that give me hope for both the Seattle School District and the south end schools, neither of which get the credit they sometimes deserve.
--Agi
Also Ms. McKee at Ballard High School - it is so great to have a young and enthusiastic teacher. Actually all the teachers at Ballard - a great bunch.