Every child deserves a champion – an adult who will never give up on them, who understands the power of connection and insists that they become the best that they can possibly be.-Rita Pierson
Reaching Out and Making a Difference!
- Teaching is more than having an expertise in a particular subject matter. For me, it is having knowledge and life experiences that I can draw on and having the skills to share that knowledge in a manner that is engaging and challenging. Effective teaching requires the ability to capitalize on students’ strengths and strengthen their weaknesses. It means that I must meet challenges with energy, enthusiasm, and innovation. I must continue to be a “learner” even more than I am a teacher.
Learning, or the mastery of a particular subject, on the other hand, results through the immersion into the subject matter and the internalization of the experiences. With that as the framework, my approach to teaching incorporates a wide variety of methodologies. First, I set the stage introducing the subject or topic through lecture and presentation. Students are encouraged to consider the subject through introductory questions that I pose. Typically, these questions do not have right or wrong answers, but encourage further investigation.
Teachers need to understand how the millennial student thinks, acts and relates to his/her environment. This understanding helps guide the presentation of materials in various forms and formats. It requires the understanding and uses all available technologies and strategies. It is one area of study that fascinates me and helps me stay current. Student assignments focus on exceeding core curriculum requirements and to the greatest extent possible, call upon core literacy skills in other disciplines. This aids students in seeing how skills and knowledge gained in other course work applies to the subject they are learning. This framework not only strengthens their relationship to their other subjects, but also helps them to relate to the new topics they encounter.
Students and teachers each bring different skills to the classroom that provides opportunities for shared learning. We gain new insights from each other by being open to fresh perspectives. Encouraging “out of the box” thinking provides opportunities for problem solving and growth. It also signals the students that we value them and their opinions.
****************************************************************************************************************************** - Teacher - The Raymond J. Lesniak - Experience, Strength, Hope, Recovery High School, Union, NJ (2015)
- Long-Term Substitute Teacher of Careers (Hillcrest Academy South, Westfield, NJ (9/2014- 2/2015)
- Keynote Speaker and Guest Lecturer at National Conferences & Nationally Recognized Treatment Facilities.
- Union County Educational Services Commission – Substitute Teacher (Special Ed & Alt. H.S.) – 9/2010 – 6/2012
- JV Boys Soccer Coach – Roselle Catholic High School -- 2010 – 2012
- Field Training Officer – Springfield Auxiliary Police / Springfield OEM – 1995 - 2010
- Instructor of Emergency Service Personnel in WMD Awareness and Response – 2001- 2010
- Instructor of Blood Borne Pathogens – Infection Control, Exposure Control (NJ PEOSHA, OSHA) 1999 - 2010
- Instructor of Incident Command System – ICS 100 Basic 2001 – 2010
- Lecturer & Workshop Presenter – Family and Drug Addiction
- EMT – Vehicle Extrication Instructor 1989 – 1996
- First Aid Instructor – 1986 – 1992
- Soccer Coach – Licensed – NJYSA Level E
- Soccer Referee – USSF Gr. 7 / NJSIAA