My thumb represents Diane, an ELL teacher. I worked with Diane when I was the Assistant Superintendent in Kinnelon, NJ. She provided services to all of the district’s ELL students. As her supervisor, I knew her to be a competent and creative educator that made all of her students feel special and welcome. But what struck me most was her commitment to her students. After I left Kinnelon, I discovered that she gave her time and money to a local synagogue to help her students’ families. I was awestruck when I heard this. I love children and adored my students, but hers is a sense of commitment to children and their families that I will work all my life to possess.
My index finger is for another Kinnelon instructor affectionately known by all as Doc. Maryjo and I still work together from time to time. She has a Ph.D. in Physics. I am always impressed with individuals who work in the K-12 arena with high level degrees in content areas. What makes MaryJo spectacular is how she translates the most challenging content into digestible pieces that all students (even adult learners) can understand and (even more impressively) can apply in real world settings. That is saying a lot. I know a lot of brilliant people, but no one is like MaryJo. She is brilliant in her ability to translate that knowledge into student progress.
My middle finger is reserved for the most skilled teacher I have ever met. Elizabeth and I met when I worked in Mine Hill, NJ. Liz was a committed first grade teacher. Every year, her students progressed more than any class, and in every core area. I remember when a colleague, who was a former superintendent, was walking around the building with me observing student work. She commented that her students displayed excellent work for third graders. With a large smile I said, “That would be good, except that these students are in first grade!” My colleague was astonished. I also remember when they took the NJPASS. At that time, it was a new test, and neither she nor her students had ever seen it before. Most first graders in NJ did not get a passing score that year. Every one of Liz’s students scored advanced proficient in English and mathematics. There are so many other instances I could describe that show how her students exceed every other class I have ever seen, in any district, in the past twenty years.
My ring finger belongs to a first year teacher in Vineland, New Jersey. I was assisting a school to assure student success on the NJASK when I met Maria. During an in-class support period, despite the fact that she was a really strong first year teacher, she implemented a math lesson the way that she thought the textbook intended, but she totally missed the target. Afterward, I told her something that I’ve never said to any educator. I said, “That was the worst lesson that I ever saw.” She was not even stunned. Because Maria wanted to be an excellent teacher she listened with great earnest as I explained how to identify the crux of the lesson, and how to identify when students were not successful with particular elements of the lesson’s objectives, and how she and her aide could create activities that address each component of the lesson. She was a sponge. For the next few hours, she and her aide sat in that room looking at the upcoming math lessons and avidly discussing how best to present the lesson’s objectives, how to identify student needs and strengths, and how to remediate on the spot to address each student’s needs. It was truly beautiful to see. Maria embodies the true meaning of professionalism. Even though a large percent of her students came to her classroom with scores on the NJASK of partially proficient, by the end of that first year they left as near-advanced or advanced-proficient students. That is what I call a first year teacher!
Lastly, my pinky finger represents a married couple, Roberta and Alvin (Maybe it’s not fair to allocate one finger for two educators, but they are married, and it’s my finger). They are a power couple from Long Branch, NJ. Alvin took over a high school badly in need of direction, and turned it into FOUR highly successful academies. Roberta worked with compassion, strength and single-mindedness to bring all of her elementary and middle schools to high performance on the state tests. Literally every conversation I’ve ever had with them regarded methods that they could employ to bring their district to higher and higher levels of success. I am an exhausting person with my intensity and passion for education, but these two would bring me to my knees. They are relentless in their desire to achieve the best.
So there you have it; fiveish educators that are better than I ever hope to be. Every day they inspire me. It is my greatest hope to one day be as committed as Diane, as knowledgeable as MaryJo, as able as Liz, as tenacious as Maria, and as passionate as Roberta and Alvin. These educators are the best in the field and I proudly hold them up on my five fingers!
Victoria
Pagonis
Founder and President
Standards Solution
Standards Solution
