Jan Mitchell 1997 Iowa State Teacher of the Year.
In her 22 years of teaching Language Arts at Marshalltown High School, Jan Mitchell has fostered a learning environment built on trust, cooperation and partnership. "I believe in reaching students--not merely teaching them," says Mitchell. "Learning is first discovery; then it's making connections between the known and the new." Her communication-rich classes lead her students to discover who they are and how they relate to others. Seeing the changes in the student population during her career, Mitchell has changed her teaching strategies to focus on the discovery and development of skills to give her students the abilities for high-performance life work in a technical world. "Our schools need to work at building learning communities in every classroom, every class period of the day," says Mitchell. "Mastery of information is no longer the major function of education." Mitchell is an active participant and leader in the Iowa Writing Project, the Iowa Council of Teachers of English and school reform and school-to-work initiatives at the local and state levels. From 1981-96 she was Director of Forensics at Marshalltown High School and has seen her students compete and place at the state and national levels. "For me, teaching is a journey of learning," says Mitchell. "I enjoy the nature of schools as a place for positive change."
Rosalind Hurley Richards 1997 Kentucky State Teacher of the Year.
Rosalind Richards' commitment to children caused her to resume her teaching career following an 18-year stint in corporate America. "I am determined to be a good teacher," says Richards. "After working many years in a managerial position and visiting schools in third world countries, I am afraid for my students entering the workplace and not being able to compete and adapt to change." In a climate of high expectations, Richards' fifth grade classroom at Squires Elementary School in Lexington is designed to model for her students a professional learning and working environment, give them an appreciation of the fine arts and an appreciation and acceptance of different cultures. "I want to inspire them to concentrate on where they are going,rather than where they have been or where they are now," says Richards. "We need to prepare children for their future, not our past." Richards' first mission is to develop in her students the ability to learn about and adapt to the changes that will occur throughout life. Her second mission is to develop all areas of intelligences that provide pathways to learning. "My classroom produces lifelong learners," says Richards. "I am committed to establishing foundations for learning that will last a lifetime." Richards is a pilot teacher for the Kentucky Department of Education's Mathematics Portfolio Research and Development Project and is active in school reform efforts at the local and state levels.
Sharon Draper 1997 Ohio State Teacher of the Year.
Sharon Draper has taught literature and composition for 25 years. In her classes at Walnut Hills High School in Cincinnati she tells her students "that if they learn nothing else in my class, I want them to understand that a powerful connection exits between historical and cultural events and the literary creations of the time." "It's hard for students to get cultural perspective unless someone takes the time to show them the links," says Draper. She demands and expects the best from her students, regardless of background and formation and each new class is eager to meet her expectations. The "Draper Paper" expected of seniors is legendary among younger students. Draper's belief that an active learner is the best teacher has lead her to continue her own writing also. She is a published and awarded author of five books and many poems and stories for young people. In 1995 she was in the first group of teachers in the country to receive National Certification by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards and was subsequently elected to the Board of Directors of that organization. She is much in demand nationally as a presenter on the need for professionalism for educators and the preparation of pre-service teachers. "Teaching is essential and eternal," says Draper. "The public must learn to trust us, respect us, and value our knowledge and expertise."
George Abshire 1997 Oklahoma State Teacher of the Year.
The belief that all students can enjoy mathematics and achieve success is at the heart of George Abshire's teaching at Jenks East Middle School. In his classes students learn to reason mathematically, work with others to solve problems, communicate mathematical ideas effectively, and use technology to help solve problems. "It is my responsibility as the teacher to provide an environment of opportunities for my students to achieve success," says Abshire. "Teachers must engage students in the actual process of learning rather than routinely transmitting information." A proponent of Problem-Centered Learning, Abshire's classes provide students the opportunity to construct meaning for themselves in an environment that allows students to work both individually and in groups. "Students profit from teaching others, presenting their solutions and listening to other students explain their methods," says Abshire. "My students are successful because they are actively engaged." Abshire is a frequent presenter on mathematics education at state and national professional meetings. He firmly believes that teachers who are committed to improving education training empower other educators to be stakeholders in quality instruction. Abshire has lead his teaching team in the implementation of the "Pick-a-Portfolio Stock Contest," a multi-disciplinary unit that integrates technology, mathematics, language arts, social studies, and science to introduce students to the stock market. "Exciting real-life projects allow students to make sense of their work and enjoy the learning process," says Abshire. "Students produce quality work that is relevant."
