What matters most
As the last month of the school year starts today here is a youtube video of a TED talk by Sean McComb, the 2015 National Teacher of the Year, who reminds us of the importance of being compassionate with every student. I’m sure you have your own teacher stories about connecting with students.
President Obama Welcomes teachers
This is the second in the series of blog posts in celebration of Teacher Appreciation Week, May 4-10, 2014. Thank you for the work you do supporting quality arts education!
On May 1st President Obama welcomed the 2014 state teachers and National teacher of the year to the White House. I share this information with you today since it is the first day of Teacher Appreciation Week. In the photo above with President Obama is Sean McComb, the 2014 National Teacher of the year. On the President’s right is Maine’s very own 2014 teacher of the year Karen MacDonald, from King Middle School in Portland. Below is a snippet from the White House blog:
“Today is a chance to thank not just the teachers on this stage but teachers all across the country,” said the President. “We really can’t say enough about how important their role is in making sure that America succeeds. So thank you for what you’re giving our children and what you’re giving our nation.”
After emphasizing the significant role that teachers play in our society, the President honored the National Teacher of the Year, Sean McComb.
Sean, a teacher at Patapsco High School and Center for the Arts in Baltimore, works with students in a program called Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) — a college-readiness program aimed at capable students who just need that extra push.
You can read the entire post by clicking here. More importantly I suggest that you watch the (entire) video embedded in the post where Sean McComb speaks. I am proud to be an educator when a teacher speaks so distinctively about our profession.
In Sean’s own words…
“I became a teacher because I had incredible teachers who were able to shine a light of hope and possibility into a dark time in my life. Teaching is my calling to do that for others, and an opportunity to spend my career living purposefully — helping children fulfill the promise of their lives.”
me arts ed 