Educational Philsophy

Being an educator is a part of who I am because I want to provide a positive influence on the lives of students. I feel that health education is where I can have the greatest impact. It seems crucial that students understand that the professionalism and collegial world of the school they align themselves with will benefit from positive change. As future health educators, students need to realize that they will make a difference in their community. Teacher’s classrooms can be healthy, supportive environments in which their own students can grow, and it is up to them to ensure that reality. Health Education does not solely involve alcohol, drugs and eating certain foods as some people might think. By allowing students the opportunity to study a comprehensive health education and nutrition program one gives them the knowledge base from a wide spectrum of areas. Students, who are educated in the ways of the world, have a better chance of surviving and making the right choices in it. It is the job of the health and nutrition educator to provide students with real life situations and the skills needed to endure them. Having healthy relationships and maintaining self confidence are some of the skills students attain in a comprehensive health education program. Without this type of instruction, students are forced to discover the “real world” without being properly prepared for it. I believe it is extremely important for students to learn under a curriculum that centers on comprehensive health education and nutrition. In addition to Nutrition and Health Education I am a firm believer in Career Education (CE). At the same time, however, advances are being made in the CE field. The need and demand for career educators and health educators has never been greater. Additional issues that face the career and technical infrastructure include; contracting teacher education programs, lack of stability in state leaderships; and deeply divided opinions about career and technical education. These issues have managed to create confusion about what career and technical education is and what contributions it makes to our educational system. Concurrently, increased activity in the career and technical education field is occurring today than at any other time in history. Dynamic leaders all over the country are making tremendous strides in improving quality of CTE, in getting industry involved, and incorporating rigorous industry and academic standards. Career and technical education would benefit from a clear national vision that would help national and state policy makers target funding and technical assistance. Such initiatives would enhance these quality improvements. My goal is to contribute to this national vision by investigating ways in which career and technical education can be improved both here and abroad. I wish to contribute to this vision, as I believe that good teaching is invaluable when delivering career and technical education career pathways. Teaching and learning, through a variety of styles is permanent, long lasting, and unstoppable processes. This premise is the foundation of what has influenced my teaching. My philosophy is an accumulation of the values, beliefs, and experiences I bring to the classroom experience. I have found that the more aware I am of each student’s needs; the better I am able to engage students in learning. This aligns student’s success with my teaching style and philosophy. I have developed a sense of community in my classes, and I believe that as much as possible, future teachers should be in control and responsible for what they learn. In summary, the experience and findings I have outlined in this statement convey my sincere wish to continue my research supporting, and enhancing the leadership development training of undergraduate, and graduate students in career and technical education is a measurable goal for me. This relative course work will enable a stronger community of inquiry, as well as, generate knowledge about career and technical research training. This will, in turn, lead to new and valuable contribution to our field.

Thoughts on Technology

Using technology helps me to become a "reflective learner and a wonderful teacher". I enjoy technology and I enjoy learning! I have had a exciting time incorporating technology into my classroom, lessons, professional development, and assessments for over 14 years. As the students (secondary and post-secondary) utilize different types of technology in their lessons, they are more focused, interested, and inspired! I realize that the more I implement technology and see the students responses, the more excited I get about applying technology in my classes and in my own professional development. Technology is our future and I believe we should move with the future. When teaching with technology, I like to stress that it is a tool. A tool to aid in the instruction and to enhance the learning process. By stating that technology helps with many learning styles, students and teachers can see, hear, and feel the learning that is taking place.

Technology Background

  • Internet Research including a web reviews and an award winning website titled Technteach
  • Desktop Publishing including Quarkxpress, MS Publisher, and MS Word
  • Digital Video Production including Movie Maker 2 (a MACUL presentation) and Adobe Premiere
  • Charting and Graphing Data including MS Excel and (online resource on charting)
  • PowerPoint including a MACUL and MiAEYC presentation on Talking Books in the Classroom
  • Logo Programming and Java Programming
  • Web Design including WebQuest Development
  • Graphic Design including Adobe PhotoShop, Adobe PhotoShop Elements, Adobe Ilustrator, MS Paint, and MS Imaging
  • Digital Photography including Adobe PhotoShop, Adobe PhotoShop Elements, Adobe Ilustrator, MS Paint, MS Imaging, and PhotoStory 3
  • Personal Productivity

Award Winning Technology Intergration Lessons and Projects

  1. Lesson Plan Development-Science and Technology: Women in Science
    2. Award winning Microsoft Encarta Lesson Plan Encarta Africana. CD-Rom. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. and Kwame Anthony Appiah, eds. Cambridge, MA: Harvard Square Netcasting, 1999. The two editors, colleagues at Harvard University, teamed with Microsoft to launch a comprehensive CD-Rom containing thousands of documents related to African and African American history. The web site, www.africana.com, offers additional information. E,M,S
  2. HyperStudio presentations including an award winning presentation titled: Insects: What's Bugging You?" Download HyperStudio Project (Zip File)