Ashley Barbour • Henry Clay High School, Social Studies, 3rd year of teaching  

"Learning should be interactive, challenging and engaging to all students in the classroom. I see my role as a facilitator who orchestrates opportunities for students to experience social studies in a real and tangible manner."

Phyllis Blaeser  •  Squires Elementary School, Grade 4, 25th year of teaching

"I believe teaching should be creative with a lot of hands-on activities. I believe children will retain information better if they are active in the learning and enjoy the learning process. Teaching should be stimulating as well as the learning."

"I believe in doing what is right for each individual child, so my philosophies tend to vary from year to year. Basically, I believe in having high expectations of all students and communicating that clearly to them. It helps them set higher goals for themselves and boast their self esteem. I believe in assuming nothing. I try to "teach" everything.....expectations, procedures, study habits, age appropriate social skill, and much more in addition to basic curriculum. You never know exactly what kind of background each child comes from or what they have been previously exposed to. I like to try to see things from their perspective and meet them half way."

Beth Dugan • Russell Cave Elementary School, Early Start, 7th year of teaching

"I like teaching the four-year-olds because it is their first experience with school. They are so excited and curious about everything. I try to make learning fun so they keep that curiosity and excitement and form a love of learning."