Teacher, Teach It!

English teacher Eduardo Torres encourages us to actively pursue cross-curricular activities and to think deeply about the message we want students to experience, beyond the basic curriculum.

A conversation with Nico Johnson, who encourages us to be creative, always think about things in different ways, and to get everyone involved in the discussion and the work.

A conversation with Laura Shelton, a teacher of exceptional learners. Laura encourages us to focus on finding what’s getting in the way of learning, and helping students learn how they learn best, so they can be free to be themselves and to grow in it.

A conversation with David Rawlins, a Visual Arts teacher, who points out that learning is what takes place in the space between ability and knowing and encourages us to help our students be good observers, which leads to good problem solving and understanding.

A conversation with Stephanie Hilton, one of our MLC teachers, where she makes the point that we are all individual points of connection that build a web of support for our students.

A conversation with Braden Tribolet, who reinforces the need to find common ground with students in order to build the strong relationships that make teaching both more enjoyable and more effective.

A conversation with Paul Kennedy where he encourages us to continually evaluate and adjust our teaching, checking to be sure we know the reason and purpose of our work, and that our students know why they are doing what they are doing.

A conversation with Renee Isom, our school librarian, where she encourages us to find the tools we need to get the job done, whatever it is we want to do (and to let her help!)

A conversation with Andrew Jones, a social studies teacher who encourages us to see the significance in even the small things, and to take advantage of the fact that every little act to support our students can be a turning point in their lives.

A conversation with Beth Carson, where she encourages us to do a great job planning, but to be aware of everything that is going on around us and to be adaptable when things go awry.

A conversation with one of our Guidance counselors, in which Maggie Schwartzkopf emphasizes the little things - doing simple things to help and listening closely to our students to support them as they try to do hard things.

Sara Horn shares her experiences as a new teacher and encourages us to be ourselves in the classroom and to give ourselves space to learn and grow as we teach.

A conversation with Jeff Fronius, an engineering teacher, about the practical aspects of transfer of learning and passion in the classroom.

Matt Bockenfeld talks about how he integrates his experiences in travelling and his passion for history into a classroom where school doesn’t feel so much like learning as it does living through others’ experiences.

A conversation with Lauren Votaw, a Health and PE teacher and head girls’ basketball coach at FHS.  Our students need to be known by us, and they need to know us as well.  Outside interests influence and inform our teaching, and that’s a good thing.