This day/week fills me with so much appreciation for all the teachers in my life. My parents, first and foremost, who taught me how to read and provided me with every educational opportunity I could ever hope for. Mrs. McCabe, Ms. DeYoung, Mr. Kropf..teachers who challenged me, inspired me, pushed me to believe and understand something new about myself or the world. Mentor teachers (Sylvie, Wayne, Aija, Erica) who broke down lessons, provided gentle and informative critique, and taught me invaluable lessons about the classroom and pedagogy. My grad school professors who helped me understand developmentally appropriate practice, inquiry-based teaching, and the importance of a responsive, socially just classroom culture.
Mara and Rachel...my patient, gifted first grade colleagues who taught me most of what I know about teaching young children. They took me on as a first year teacher to their team and gave me the gift of patience, helped me within my Zone of Proximal Development, and ONLY lifted me up. I know most of what I know about blending and ELA instruction from Rachel Amsterdam and most of what I know about student-centered Math instruction (including Number Talks!) from Mara Henry. I am so indebted to you very special educators and now, two of my dearest friends.
Nova, who was my BTSA coach, my cheerleader, one of the only people who saw me as ME as a teacher, without judgment and with endless praise and analysis. Everything I know about learning targets and holding students accountable comes from her. Jessica Sigler, who came to Oakland a year after I did but floored me with her developmentally appropriate pedagogy, firm love, and incredible success in teaching every single student in her class to READ fluently by the end of Kindergarten (not to mention inspiring me to run a half marathon!). Ellie, my current Kinder colleague, who is endlessly patient with my all-over-the-placeness, and has taught me what "zen" actually means.
My greatest teachers, along with these incredible influences, have been my students. They are empathetic, understanding, reflective, resilient, introspective, compassionate, and adaptive.
I am so very thankful.
