What does teaching mean to you? Is rapport important? What strategies work? “These are pretty big questions. I think my teaching strategies, and what teaching means to me are woven together. As a teacher you have to be well prepared, willing to learn new things, survive your mistakes, and share your successes. The support and education provided by Betty Andreadis is beyond comparison. Thank you Betty for helping me to grow professionally and in my ability to apply and improve my instruction through the use of technology.
It was a difficult decision for me to transfer into this district 21 years ago. I was tenured and had seniority in another district. It was a very fortunate decision, as viewed in in hind sight, and I am so proud to be a member of this faculty. I have grown professionally and personally in ways I could never have imagined. One of the biggest assets is the fact that we are a two school district. I have had the good fortune to teach in both buildings. I have met and worked with dozens of amazing professionals, and had the experience of serving under countless administrators. And the students! It is difficult to imagine more talented, motivated, intelligent or truly delightful student body than the combined populations of Ramapo and Indian Hills High Schools! Teaching in both buildings has allowed me to interact and develop lifetime relationships with so many special people, colleagues, parents and students. It has given meaning and purpose to my life.
Allow me to wax philosophical for a moment. I have said that teaching is about the students. If there is a rapport with students it grows out of mutual respect, and when students know that you believe in them, and that they have value. I do not believe in lowering expectations because students are not academically successful. Rather, I think that a good teacher must believe that all students have the potential to succeed, and that you have the power to elevate them. How fortunate that my life’s path took me in this direction. I have saved every note a student has ever sent me. At the end of a career, how many of us can truly move on knowing that we have made a positive impact on a person’s life? There is a national trend to quantify teaching. There is no number, no test score, spread sheet, graph or qualifier that can measure this. When June 25th comes, I will not walk out of here with a file, but with these more important things in my heart.” —- Sue Hoyt
