2002 West Virginia Teacher of the Year
Mrs. Gren teaches first-grade students all subjects at Woodburn Elementary in West Virginia. She has sixteen years of teaching experience.

What are your beliefs about teaching?
"I truly believe all children can learn. It is my job to use whatever techniques I know, or can develop, to foster growth in each child. I try to create the conditions where every child can bloom. An outstanding teacher is like a master gardener, creating conditions of optimal growth in sometimes difficult environments."

How are your beliefs incorporated in your teaching style?
"I use a wide variety of teaching strategies – whole class, small group, project work and stations. It is important to relate the lessons to my students' lives and help them to see the possibilities for the future."

What is your greatest teaching accomplishment?
"Some first graders have very little experience or interest in learning to read. I am determined to inspire them. One of my favorite moments was watching one little boy work in his journal. He drew himself holding a book with his eyes wide open. He drew at least four thought bubbles over his head, filling them with little pictures. He poked me in the back and said, 'Look, Mrs. Gren, reading takes you places in your head.' I knew he really understood."

What's the most critical issue facing educators today and what do you think can be done to resolve this issue?
"The most critical issue facing educators today is the negative perception about the achievement of our students. After three presidential campaigns based on educational reform, the public and the press seem to think that our schools are failing, and that we need vouchers or tax credits to get our students out of these schools. To resolve this issue, we need to act as advocates for our own profession. Questions from the public about student achievement must be answered, and put into a proper context. Every headline that puts our student scores behind other countries, or public schools behind private schools, must be answered with careful examination that makes sure we are comparing similar sets of students. We must closely scrutinize ideas about the good old days. Today's expectations are higher, certainly much higher than thirty years ago when I was in school."

Inspirational thought:
"'We must be the change we wish to see in the world' (Mohatma Ghandi)."