Sue Bohon • Julius Marks Elementary School, Science Lab

“As Albert Einstein said, 'The most important thing is to never stop asking questions.' Our responsibility to students is to nurture their natural curiosity and to help them to develop methodical and disciplined approaches for discovering their world. Science is the avenue for logical thinking which trains young minds to analyze information and acquire knowledge.”

“If we want our students to develop an appreciation for our fascinating world, we must model that fascination and instill an excitement for learning. If we are excited about what we teach, our students can be excite about what they learn. The secret is believing in ourselves and believing in our students.”

Julie Gallutia • Deep Springs Elementary School, Technology Resource Teacher

“My desire is to have the students I teach love and appreciate technology as much as I do. It's wonderfully rewarding introducing and teaching computer skills that will be valuable to the students for their future education and potentially their careers.”

Loraye Jones • Veterans Park Elementary School, PSA

“I believe that the key to excellence in teaching is a true love of children and an enthusiasm for sharing and learning new knowledge. This combination motivates professionals to develop and refine their skills continuously, always searching for activities, strategies, and methods that will not only enable each child to learn to his or her fullest capacity, but also enrich each child’s life through exposure to an exciting curriculum which fosters the desire for lifelong learning.”

Susan McLaughlin • Lafayette High School, Space Science and Physical Science

“Teaching has to be personal between me and the students. If they know you care, they will be more motivated to learn.”

Greg Rayer • LTMS, Academic Coach

“Teachers need to develop teaching techniques that impact learning while also being energy efficient. We need to move away from the teaching style in which the teacher is doing the majority of the work. It is useful to recall the following proverb: Tell me, I hear. Show me, I see. Involve me, I understand. The wisdom in these words leads to the conclusion that for the most effective learning to occur, teachers must involve their students in the learning environment.”