Nov 14 2008
The aftermath of our visit to St. Bonaventure University, 11/12/08
What a priviledge it was to spend Wednesday evening with @ 41 undergraduate and graduate students of Education at St. Bonaventure University in Olean, NY. Ann Aversa, former BOCES special education supervisor/teacher, Brad Nunn – Jamestown Public Schools, Rochester City Schools and BOCES teacher/ administrator together with myself, Professors Paula Kenneson, Ann Claire Fisher and >>>>>>>>>>>>> were delighted in the company of future educators in whose faces we re-discovered ourselves. The passion, questions and thoughtful repose of the students in the class reflected our own journey of questioning and discovery so many years ago, when we ourselves were students just round the corner from entering a profession we could not wait to impact and change.
I think that it is imperative that schools and universities collaborate in the educational training of future teachers and educational leaders. We all recognize that professional growth goes both ways ( with students and bringing practitioners into colleges) and that informing students of current trends and the daily pulse of schools is critical to preparing them for the work they will be engaged in – work that is grounded in theory but is so much dictated by the human service needs of students, families and school employees. When I was in college I thought that the lesson plans and curriculum were my foundations of instructional/professional success. Today I know this to be a crucial piece but I do not discount the importance of my contacts with every manner of personal interaction I have with every member of the educational team. I focus on this everyday when I enter the school building and immediately greet the maintenance and grounds staff, the secretaries, my peer superivisor, the teachers, the professional staff, the aides and the list goes on until 8:30 am when the students arrrive, and the parent calls come in, probation officers, mental health counselors, come into the building. All these contacts and facets of a school make for the professional success of each and every school day. These contacts spell passion and energy.
It is my hope that the visit and experiences that we as collective educators shared with the students of St. Bonaventure University, will inspire you to be the change leaders in schools. In addition to talking about IEPs, IDEA, FERPA, student PLEP statements, student accomodations, classroom sizes, least restrictive environments, IEP direct etc. it is our hope that you will enter this endeared teaching profession prepared to passionately save students one at a time and make this nation once again a leader in education, creativity, discovery and excitement.
Student References:
Thomas Friedman, AUTHOR OF The World Is Flat and The World is Crowded
SOCIAL NETWORKS: NING, TAPPED IN, CLASSROOM 2.0, TWITTER
We look forward to hearing from all of you at St. Bona’s via this blog. Please share with us, your insights, thoughts and ideas as to how we can better prepare you for the world of work you have chosen. Our thanks to your professors, especially Dr. Kenneson for inviting us to your classroom and introducing us to Bona hospitality, Cafe La Verna and Plassman Hall.
My night was gloriously blessed when I ran into one of my former students, C. Lombardo ( Bona’s 2011) - one day I hope he will be a businessman who will generate work for others and help pay the public taxes which we hope will continue to fund our programs.
PS: K. Blake, I met Ms. Tina Currie, CSE chair today at the Jamestown Ad. building. She told me that you are a gifted teacher just waiting to be picked up by some lucky school!
