I love to teach.  Really, I do.  I love being an administrator, too, but teaching was the first experience where I was truly able to see concepts and discoveries take shape in the minds of my students.  Being able to facilitate a classroom of students and have such a tremendous influence in the way young minds are challenged and developed is a thrill.  In administration, another passion of mine, effective leadership is crucial to help motivate and mentor my teaching staff to keep the best interests of the child at heart.  Accountability is one of the biggest parts of being a school leader at any level.  I am accountable to my staff, the students, their guardians, the school board, county superintendent, the State of Maryland, and myself.  I need to be able to rest each night knowing that I was able to perform to the best of my abilities and that I had the best interest of the school at heart throughout the day.

This is a photo take a week ago by one of my wonderful SAT prep students.  I am working one-on-one with another student trying to discover acceptable synonyms for a word she was having difficulties with.  Able to manipulate the computer keys in a mind boggling way, this student was successful in her search and the photo captured us right before we were about to celebrate her achievement.  What I like about this photo is how the student I am working with is not smiling for the camera.  In fact, we didn’t know we were being photographed.  Instead, that smile is what I often refer to as the “ah ha” moment when a concept just “clicks” and the student often exclaims “I got it!”  and such is the case in this photo.  My student “got” what we were working so hard at trying to achieve and her look is one of satisfaction and success.

A photo like this, brought to my attention because I was “tagged” in it on Facebook, is the reason why I am an educator and school administrator.  This is why I have happiness in teaching.