TEACHING
“You haven’t taught a child until he has
learned.”
– Coach John Wooden
Do you believe we experience a different purpose in each of life’s seasons? I do.
After 35 years of writing for the mass media and authoring three books, I wondered how the experience could be used in a different way, a way to serve. It didn’t take long to figure it out.
Wouldn’t it be great, I thought, to share that experience with high school students and teach it through the lens of someone who’s written thousands of inches of copy just about every day since turning 18? So, I pursued the educational credentials that were needed and landed as an English and oral communication instructor in the Palestine-Wheatley School District, deep in the heart of the Arkansas Delta.
It’s an amazing opportunity for this life season.
I love stories. There’s not a single element of our lives that doesn’t revolve around stories. My purpose is helping students understand how stories and practiced communication will add value to their adult lives as future community leaders. I want to pour into my students.
TEACHING PHILOSOPHY
Core Teaching Beliefs
01
While we focus on the fundamentals of
English language arts, there is a bigger
picture. We are preparing young adults for a world where they become ethical, compassionate, productive members of society who use their passions for the greater good.
02
I teach a philosophy of learning to read, and, in turn, reading to learn. We climb the ladder of critical thinking skills: remembering, understanding, application, analysis, evaluation, and creation.
03
Classes function as a team. A rising tide lifts all boats. Learning is the goal, and no one gets left behind.
So, here we go. I couldn’t be more excited. I bet I’ll look back on all this one day and there will be a great story to tell.