I have taught 33 years, 18 of them at White Oak. After Saturday night’s Senior Celebration I am humbled and blessed by the seniors’ remarks about not only me, but my colleagues and White Oak in general.  If college students in education programs could sit in on a ceremony such as this, they would catch on fire for the profession. I am a firm believer that ultimately it is not the curriculum, the building environment, the technology available that results in a quality education. It is the relationship between students and teachers that are well-educated in their field, passionate about their subjects and most importantly, passionate about their students. There is a painting over my classroom door that reads: Arise, Go forth and Conquer!  I would love to see young, bright, dedicated teachers doing the same.

Lesson Plans:

Sociology:

Students will be able to:

~identify elements of poverty in America and how it impacts the family, the economy, education, crime and culture

~analyze the impact that each of the above has on perpetuating poverty in America

~explain examples of intervention that are successful and analyze why they work

Monday-Friday:  Documentary & Discussion on PBS series Country Boys

Introduction to Journalism:

Students will be able to:

~explain the role of journalists in combat journalism

~analyze the role of constitutional protections in ensuring that journalism is the Watchdog of Democracy

~demonstrate understanding of the events that resulted in the Cambodian Genocide under the Pol Pot regime

Monday-Wednesday:  Killing Fields

Thursday:  Essay Test

Friday: News-Feature:  reading aloud to students (Pulitzer Prize winning stories)