WHAT MAKES A GOOD TEACHER GREAT? Part II

Dr. Wendy Ghiora – Posting #39 – February 13, 2010

As promised last week, we will continue our investigation as to what great teachers do that good teachers don't do. We will look at what sets these outstanding teachers apart from the rest.

This week we’ll be learning about our second candidate for the honor of receiving the "National Teacher of the Year" award. Let us continue to focus on the connecting threads binding certain qualities and beliefs into something that will clarify our understanding of what makes these individuals truly special and a cut above. Once again, it is my hope, as you discover these threads, you will be motivated to take your teaching up a level.

I am pleased to introduce the second finalist for 2009. The quoted italicized text includes excerpts from the finalist’s applications for National Teacher of the Year.

Susan Elliott—2009 Colorado Teacher of the Year. Ms. Elliott is a ninth through twelfth grade English and social studies teacher at Highlands Ranch High School in Highland Ranch, Colorado. She has taught for 31 years, the last six at Highlands Ranch High School, which has 1,690 students.

"To meet students’ needs, teachers must seize every opportunity to continue their professional development, maximize our students' time, and cover the essentials of a guaranteed and viable curriculum. To do this we must make cross-curricular connections, use integrated technology, and protect our instructional time. We are on the front lines; we touch the future everyday in our classrooms. We must secure support from the media and policymakers at every level to create strong learning communities. Well-prepared teachers are the most valuable resource we can provide young people. Teachers have the power to positively influence student achievement in schools organized for success regardless of income, background or ethnic identity."

Ms. Elliot knows the significance continued and relevant professional development has for teachers. There are always new techniques and ideas to learn about that can make a huge difference in one’s teaching; and thus in the impact one will have on students. Susan demonstrates how much she values protecting each instructional minute. Each minute is important as the total minutes used wisely add up to many hours of important learning for our students, while wasted minutes add up to a huge disservice to them. By making cross-curricular connections, not only is she able to cover more than one subject area at a time, she is also showing students in real-time that in real life, many courses of study interact as we deal with them in our daily lives. Using integrated technology is a must in today’s cyber-world. Students must be proficient in computer skills, and using the Internet in any career path they wish to pursue. Gaining support from the media and policymakers is critical. We need some powerful forces such as Ms. Elliot to contact local media and “tell the story” of great things going on in the classroom. Susan is right in her statement, “ Well-prepared teachers are the most valuable resource we can provide young people.” She personally wants to give the very best she can in order to empower her students to be successful in life.