2002 Alaska Teacher of the Year
Ms. Montoya teaches the students in Kindergarten and first grade at Harborview Elementary School in Alaska. She teaches all subjects and has twenty years of teaching experience.

What are your beliefs about teaching?
"I believe that it is important that my students acquire basic skills on which to build future learning. In my class and beyond, I want my students to grow in their ability to express their feelings and ideas constructively. It is just as important that they grow in responsiveness to the rights and feelings of others. It is my strong belief that each student's family is my equal partner in achieving these goals."

How are your beliefs incorporated in your teaching style?
"I arrange teacher-made and commercial materials into interest centers to provide opportunities for small group activities. I incorporate science and social studies curriculum themes that are based on the interests of students and their families. The building of the classroom community occurs through daily opportunities for discussions and sharing. At the beginning of the year, students are involved in the establishment of understandable rules. Throughout the year, family rituals and foods are emphasized and celebrated."

What is your greatest teaching accomplishment?
"By encouraging parents to be active members of a team and by modeling this partnership to other teachers, I am accomplishing my goal to enhance the opportunity of each child in my classroom to reach his full potential."

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 growing disparity in children's readiness for school. Twenty years ago, most children entered school with equal skills. Now there is a huge gap between same-aged children in the areas of social skills, cognitive abilities, language development and emotional and physical health.

To resolve this issue we first need to train new teachers for the classroom environment they will be entering. This can be done by providing comprehensive information about multi-cultural education, learning theories, research about brain development, different learning styles, and how to develop partnerships with families regardless of their circumstances. Secondly, we need to refocus our attention and money toward schools, families and children. With proper funding for education and training we could get people out of the cycle of poverty, not just off welfare. To help our youngest generation succeed we need to fully fund Head Start, public schools and quality childcare. We need to provide easy access to reproductive, parenting and nutrition education, and basic health care for every child and pregnant mother."

Inspirational thought:
"Let's join together to keep in touch with the human side of teaching to build community among students, families and teachers. As we focus on core curriculum, state standards and testing, let's remember that students learn better when they feel safe and connected to the people around them."