Joan S. Heap
Utah Teacher of the Year
North Ogden Junior High School, North Ogden
Grades 8 and 9, Language Arts

My teaching philosophy
“The future is in the hands of those who can give tomorrow's generations valid reasons to live and hope." This quote, delivered centuries ago by Teilard de Chardin, a French geologist/paleontologist, is the central theme of my current teaching philosophy.

I love to teach for so many reasons. I enjoy the opportunity to interact with intelligent, diverse and curious students. Mr. Chardin captured in his phrase the core of why I am passionate about teaching - the possibility that "valid reason to live and hope" can be instilled in the youth with whom I interact. I work very hard to teach the students in my class the skills necessary to navigate the English language. Grammar skills, writing skills, and comprehension skills are the basics we teach in the language arts course. Mastery of the tools and skills of the English language is essential for the future success of my students. But I believe deeply in the philosophy that to be successful in the application of these tools, the students need to have an understanding of their own worth, potential, and innate ability to be successful.

The longer I teach, the more I am convinced that students thrive in an environment of praise and approval. I feel that students need to know they are valued as individuals and respected for their opinions. In my class, there are no wrong answers, only the process of finding the right answer together. We focus on critical thinking skills, which gives the students confidence in their abilities and empowers them to analyze and evaluate the complex world in which they live. I hope that by participating in my class, my students will have an increasingly positive attitude about their ability to speak, write, express themselves, and think "Yes I can!" in all areas of their lives.

My philosophy in action
One Friday, at the end of a long day, at the end of a long week, and at the end of the term, I had an experience that made me feel like, just maybe, I was making progress toward my goal. As I returned to the classroom, after a quick trip to the office, I found folded on my desk a piece of paper with my name on it. The letter said, "Dr. Mrs. Heap, I was never an English person, but when I entered your class I wasn't expecting such an involved and such a different teacher. You have made such a positive impact in my life. I hope when you read this letter you feel a sense of achievement because you've made a better person. I know I have been having a difficult time lately, and when I come to your class, I feel motivated and eager to make things work and to understand that we all are so privileged to have a chance to be so well educated. I truly admire you and your ability to have so much passion about teaching. I just wanted to let you know that you have definitely made an impact in my life. And I regret that I will not have you to teach me in my high school years."

My greatest teaching accomplishment
One of my first projects was to expose my students, both in and out of the classroom, to as much excellent literature as possible. In an attempt to make books more readily available to non-readers, I spearheaded a department fundraiser to acquire a library of literature to be used in the classroom. This project has resulted in literally hundreds of books being read by students who never knew they loved to read. It has also set the stage for a dialogue about the literature, and created an opportunity for both student and teacher to connect.

The most critical issue facing educators today
The fascinating world in which we live is evolving at a stunning pace. For the profession of education, it is as it was in Dickens' London, the best of times and the worst of times. Rapid changes in technology have opened avenues for providing education, yet many teachers struggle in preparing students to keep pace with these changes. More resources are available to enhance education than in any age of the past, but the difficulty in closing the achievement gap among all students remains a significant problem. Preparing our youth for success in a demanding world is a national priority, but recruitment and retention of highly qualified teachers to assist in this preparation continues to be a national dilemma. Never has there been a time when the importance of education was more celebrated, and never has there been a time when effectively providing that education was more complex.

As our culture changes, so do the support structures that once provided strength and balance to our educational system. These weakening structures have created complex dilemmas that cannot be left solely to the teacher and the educational system to solve. I believe deeply that a continued shift of responsibility to the educator alone is creating a cycle of discouragement, defeat, and dissatisfaction even in the most able and committed of teachers. In this issue is found what I believe to be the most concerning educational issue of our time.

Ways to resolve this issue
The responsibility for educating the youth of this nation must be a shared responsibility, and we as teachers must engage and involve the support structures of education, particularly the family, if we are to successfully meet our objectives.

There are parents who are vested in their child's education and who are willing to take the time to help their child be successful, and sadly, there are parents who are not. However, many parents simply lack the knowledge of how to manage their child's education in today's demanding and opportunity-filled world. This is an arena in which educators can proactively make a difference through programs that initiate a back-to- basics parent forum where parents are given the opportunity to learn basic but vital skills. It is in grassroots initiatives such as these where a foundation for shared responsibility is laid, effective communication is established, and a vital partnership is formed.

One thought to inspire teachers to succeed
As teachers, we are granted the unique privilege to enter a student's heart as we explore and expose them to the vast world in which they live. While studying new ideas and concepts, we must help them see the good in the world, and more importantly, the good within themselves. We may be the window through which they obtain a different view of the world in which they live; it is imperative that their vista be life-changing.

One lesson every student should learn
Every student should understand the concept that failure is not something to fear, but rather is an integral part of learning that can, and should, be approached with optimism and effort.

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